WANGANUI.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1551, 22 January 1920, Page 11

WANGANUI.

Acre’s Immediate Engagements— Wanganui Jockey Club’s Autumn Meeting—lncreased Stakes Offered —H. Rayner Takes Four Representatives to Foxton Gathering—Wanganui Trotting Club’s New Track Practically Completed. WANGANUI, Monday. F. Tilley has abandoned the- idea of taking a team north for the Hamilton and other meetings, the principal reason being that Acre is engaged in the classics at the Taranaki and Egmont gatherings next month and they are too close to the Hamilton fixture to admit of racing in the north and at Egmont also. T. Long has hopes that All Cerise will be fit to race at the Wanganui autumn meeting, as the All Black filly is making a good recovery from the cold which caused her to be spelled for two or three weeks. Admyra is also throwing off the soreness which prevented her racing at Marton, but she may not be a starter at the Wanganui Cup meeting. The Fordell-trained Oratress, Demand and Acre have been taken to Trentham, where they should all run well in their engagements. Acre is very fit, and should pick up a sprint race at the meeting, even if he does not win the Telegraph Handicap. Oratress will carry the support of her connections in the Wellington Cup, as she is in better form than ever. Demand appears to have gone on the right way since racing at Marton, and the half brother to Client will be hard to beat in his engagements. The Wanganui Jockey Club’s autumn meeting, to be held on February 26 and 28. gives every promise of being a record success. The prize money offered is liberal enough to attract the best horses from all parts of the Dominion, as the Cup will be worth 850sovs to the winner, the Flying Handicap 600sovs to the placegetters. and the Wanganui Stakes 700 sovs. There are other good stakes to be picked up, all classes of horses being well catered for. In addition to the cash prize of 850sovs, the winner of the Cup will receive a silver cup valued at lOOsovs, presented by Mr. W. R. Grace, one of the stewards of the club.

A race which should draw a big entry is the Victory Hack Welter of 400sovs, run over a mile and a-quar-ter. It is good to see the club encouraging long-distance races instead of short sprints, which are so popular with some clubs, but which are not in the best interests of racing. Owners should bear in mind that nominations for all the handicap events at the meeting, and a second forfeit for the Jackson Stakes are due on Friday, the 30th inst. H. Rayner has taken Simon, Nemaline, Signorella and Carmel Arch to Foxton. The last-named will probably be a starter in the Cup, though it

all depends upon whether a suitable rider can -be secured at the weight.

The formation of the Wanganui Trotting Club’s new track on Liverpool Park is practically complete, all that remains to be done to have it in first-class order for the meeting on February 27 and March 1 being a little more top-dressing and consolidating. As it is now, the track is fit to race on and several horses are now in training on it. It is a clay track,.mixed with sand, and promises to be very fast. Liverpool Park is an ideal spot for a trotting track, and though there will be no time to erect a grandstand this will not be missed, as a splendid, view of the whole course is obtained from a terrace running along the straight and which will accommodate thousands of spec-

tators. There is a big block of ground behind this terrace, on which are many willow and other trees, which will afford shelter from the sun and make ideal picnic spots for parties who like to take their own hampers with them. Stabling has been erected, providing 32 stalls and six loose-boxes, and the tote house is well under way. Other temporary appointments are being erected, and the arrangements for the meeting should be very complete considering that it is only some seven months since a start was made with the formation of the track. Owners are reminded that nominations for the Wanganui Trotting Club’s meeting close on Friday, February 7. From the number of inquiries already to hand it is evident that the entry list will be a very large one. Stone Beldon and Rio Grande are amongst the horses being trained on the new track. They are both hitting out freely, Rio Grande especially appearing to be in capital form. He will probably be taken to New Plymouth for the Taranaki Trotting Club’s meeting.