WAIRARAPA.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1565, 22 April 1920, Page 10

WAIRARAPA.

Masterton Racing Club’s Future Gatherings— Red Ribbon to Race at Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club’s Meeting—Sir Walter Being Treated to Spell. MASTERTON, Monday. The Masterton Racing Club have decided to apply for the following dates for racing during the ensuing season: October 14 and 16 for the spring meeting, and March 17 and 18 (1921), for the autumn gathering. J. Gravestock has arrived back in Masterton with Chimera and Little River, both of which were successful at Riccarton. The pair are in good condition, and have gone on to Awapuni.

The heavy rains which have fallen during the week have had a very beneficial result on the Opaki racecourse, and from now on the tracks should be in good order. Mr. W. E. Bidwill, the well-known Featherston sportsman, is leaving on a visit to England at the end of the present month. Sir Solo was taken to Trentham along with Ohiti, as W. Garrett wanted to give the old gelding some schooling over the country there. R. Knox is not doing much with Penury Rose just now, and the gelding has been a disappointment during the recent racing. Arahhna is doing steady work under W. H. Corlett’s charge at Clareville. The daughter of Achilles —Merrie Maiden should soon be able to hold her own in hack class. Galore does not seem to' have recovered from her recent accident, and is not galloping with her usual dash. Should she not stand up to her work, Mr. Whiteman intends breeding from the daughter of All Black —Orlay. Mr. W. R. Kemball is leaving for Melbourne during the present week, and the Masterton owner will probably. add to his already lengthy team of horses while away. Red Ribbon is being kept up to the collar at Opaki, and is to make her next appearance at the Hawke’s Bay meeting. For the first time in several years, J. T. Jamieson was without a representative at the *Trentham meeting. The local trainer is giving several of his team a let up. The Absurd —Electrum two-year-old Sir Walter, a member of W. Garrett’s

team, has been gelded, and turned out for a spell.

T. Higgins has an addition to his team in a two-year-old by Hymettus —Balama, which is owned by Mr. G| Innes, of Tinui. Mr. Kemball’s horses ran consistently at the Wellington Racing Club’s meeting. On the opening day, Explorer accounted for the Hurdles, Raceful won the Plunket Nursery, and Vasilkov led the field home in the Tinakori Hack Handicap, while Rebuff, Hymestra and Trespass each filled third position in their respective races. On the second day, Trespass accounted for the Hutt Handicap, while Raceful was successful in the Pacific Handicap. J. Prendergast has Vasilkov in fine racing condition just now, and the son of Autumnus —Ukraine will be heard of in better company before the season ends. The gelding is being given plenty of time, and has only started once at each meeting where he has competed. Prendergast is now in charge of Mr. Kemball’s local team. At the monthly meeting of stewards of the Masterton Racing Club on Saturday last, Mr. C. F. Vallance (president) occupied the chair. Before the meeting commenced he spoke in a very feeling manner regarding the loss the club had sustained in the death of the late Mr. A. W. Cave, who had been connected with the

Masterton Club since its start. The secretary was instructed to send a letter of condolence to Mrs. Cave. Mr. E. Harper wrote stating that he had inadvertently torn up a ticket on Stutter, which ran second in the Hack Handicap. The secretary intimated that there was an outstanding ticket on that horse. It was decided to pay the dividend if no claim was received before the 20th inst. A patron of the late meeting wrote stating that he had asked for £5 on No. 1 horse in the last race of the day, and had been handed a ticket on horse No. 2. As the window was closed immediately after receiving the ticket he had no chance of getting the mistake rectified, although he protested at the time of receiving the ticket. As No. 1 horse won, he thought the club should pay him the dividend. It was decided to obtain a statement from the person in the totalisator who gave out the ticket. The secretary of the New Zealand Jockey’s Association wrote asking the club to refuse in future the nomination of a certain horse, on account of its unruly behaviour. The letter was received.