WANGANUI.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1520, 12 June 1919, Page 10

WANGANUI.

Endure Being Treated to Spell—Success of Recent Wanganui Winter Meeting—lmprovements to Wanganui Course Projected—Rude on the Easy List. WANGANUI, Saturday. Endure, the five-year-old son of Advance —Endeavour, has been turned out by F. Tilley. He was galloping well before the Wanganui meeting, and it was hoped that the bit of schooHng over the hurdles which he was given would do him good. However, he quite failed to run up to track form on the day, and it is quite on the cards that he will not be taken up again. Still, lie is one that would probably make a really good hurdler,

and he might be given a chance to distinguish himself at that game. It is pleasing to be able to state that the recent winter meeting of the Wanganui Jockey Club was the most successful financially ever held by the club. There were a few pessimists who, because the acceptances for one or two of the first day’s events were not so large as expected, were very doleful, and anticipated that the meeting would not be a success from any point of view, evidently not realising how popular the Wanganui meetings are with the public generally. It is probable that within a very short time the Wanganui Jockey Club will have decided on the purchase of one or other of the properties under offer to the club for the formation of a new course. The two properties which appear to be most suitable for the club’s purposes are what is known as the Paul estate and one situated at Westmere. Both are on or quite negir to the through railway line, and from every point of view appear to be admirably adapted for formation into a racecourse. In fact, an expert in such matters has declared that the Wanganui Club is the luckiest in New Zealand in having two such properties from which to choose, and it would certainly seem that he is not far wrong. Of course, whichever property is finally selected it will take years to form the track and get into order for racing, so that the present course will be used for a long time yet. Rude has been thrown out of work, and is not likely to be seen in action again until the spring. The Cyrus gelding appears to be improving with age, and he is likely to do well next season.

Arlington’s indifferent displays at Ellerslie are probably responsible for his owners having withdrawn the Signalman gelding from the Gisborne Steeplechase, which comes up for decision on Thursday. Paul Moore, which was considered something in the nature of a moral for the steeplechase at Otaki, went wrong at Hawera the previous Saturday and had to be withdrawn from his engagements. It appears that the St. Paul gelding was ready to be entrained for Otaki, but his trainer decided to give him one more gallop before leaving, and after accomplishing that the gelding pulled up lame. This was very bad luck, as the son of St. Paul had been doing excellent work on the track, and had never been so fit. Mr. A. Symes came to Wanganui to see Hyginas run here, but an accident to that gelding on the morning of the first day’s races prevented him starting. Mr. Symes, who is now living on the Hawke’s Bay side, is having his team sent across there to be trained. It is said that Royal Park may not race again for some time, the jar he received having been more serious than was at first thought. LATER. Mr. J. Bull’s Team Engaged at Napier Park Meeting—Zola’s Horowhenua Cup Victory—Addition to W. Rayner’s Stable — Proposed Sporting Carnival Week in Wanganui— Egmont-Wanganui Hunt Club to Hold Meeting in August. WANGANUI, Monday. Mr. Jas. Bull has Master Lupin, All Over, Yankee Jack and Ruddy all engaged in the Necklace Handicap to be run at the Napier Park meeting. All Over figures amongst the nominations for the Hack Hurdles, as well as the flat events. It would not be surprising if All Ovei proved able to jump, as all of Mr. Bull’s horses appear to make good at hurdling and steeplechasing. A good deal of their success at the jumping game is no doubt due to the fact that they get plenty of practice on their owner’s property, running about the hilly country and jumping logs, banks and ditches. In his younger days Master Lupin d’d a lot of that, and he always appeared to enjoy that kind of thing, which practice stood him in good stead when he was called upon to contest the Great Northern Steeplechase, which he won in such good style. All Over is likely to make a good hurdler, as he has plenty of pace and looks like one that should jump well. Capt. E. Whiteman’s mare Metallum might have won the hurdles at Horowhenua but for being left about a dozen lengths at the start. The daughter of Maniapoto ran and jumped wel] when she did start, and was not far away at the finish. W. Rayner sent Zola to Horowhenua for the Cup, and the son of Sweet Simon duly won that event, running a good race and cutting out the distance in 3min. 8 l-ssec. He paid a very nice price, as three or four others were well backed. The winner was well handled by young P. Rayner, who is rapidly coming to the front as a rider. He is credited with riding three excellent races at Otaki, when he won the first two events on the opening day, and was on Battle Song, which many declare won the Cup by a neck, but was placed second by the judge. W. Rayner has had another addition to his stable in a coming two-year-old filly by Absurd out of Roscommon, bred and owned by Mr. G. M. Currie. This filly is a particularly well-grown youngster, and has quarters on her like a three-year-old. She is just being broken in, but she is very quiet, and is not likely to give her trainer much trouble in putting her through her early facings. She looks like one that should turn out well as a two-year-old. The other two youngsters which Rayner has in work are making capital progress, and they promise to earn distinction on the track, as they are already giving signs of having pace and hit out in a style which is pleasing to their trainer. There is every prospect of a big racing and sporting carnival being held here in February next, when it is proposed that the Wanganui J.C. Cup meeting, the Trotting Club’s annual gathering, the Agricultural Show, and other attractions, including a championship regatta, boxing carnival, swimming championship, musical and elocutionary competitions, and athletic sports, should all be held, making up a great programme extending over a week. The matter is being taken up with some enthusiasm,

and the only thing necessary to make a definite fixture of the carnival is the arrangement of suitable dates for the racing and trotting meetings. Zola is to be kept in work with a view to competing at the Wellington meeting next month. He looks none the worse for his race on Friday, and if he goes to Trentham he is likely to run well in his engagements if the going is not too soft. He cannot act in the mud.

Apart from Zola, the only horses in training here are Zemanek, Mode, and the rising two-year-olds in Rayner’s and Long’s stables. Zemanek is being got ready for the hurdle races later on, and Mode is also expected to turn out a jumper. F. Tilley is busy with two or three youngsters, the most promising of which appears to be the half-brother by Demosthenes to Client. This colt gives every indication of turning out a useful kind. A meeting of the members of the Egmont-Wanganui Hunt Club was held the other day to decide where the club should hold their forthcoming annual race meeting. A suggestion had been made that it should be held at the same time as the Wanganui J.C. spring meeting, but the

Waverley-Waitotara Racing Club had discussed the matter and agreed to guarantee the Hunt Club against any loss if they held the meeting at Waverley. It was suggested that the Hunt Club provide stakes worth between £7OO and £BOO. It was finally decided to hold the meeting in August, which means that it will take place at Waverley. A programme committee was appointed to draw up a programme. If between £7OO and £BOO is given away for seven events the stakes will compare very favourably with those given by any other Hunt Club, and the gathering should be a big success. It was resolved that every endeavour should be made to get extra days for Hunt Club fixtures, and that clubs should urge the members for their various districts to legislate so as to make this possible.