WANGANUI.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1578, 22 July 1920, Page 12

WANGANUI.

Rose Queen in Steady Work Again— Marton J.C.’s Spring Meeting— Feilding J.C.’s Successful Season. WANGANUI, Monday. W. Rayner returned from Wellington on Friday with; Listowel, which colt ran second in the Trial Plate at Trentham. The son of Absurd was unable to do his best in the soft going, which he found very different

from the Wanganui tracks, and " though“he " led until “a' furlong from home the -last bit found, him. out.; He looks none the worse for his trip, and will be kept going in view of the Mart'on. meeting. . Rayner has" Rose Queen in steady work - again, and the daughter ■ of King Rufus is looking very well indeed, the spell having done her a lot of good. She will probably be seen out at the Marton meeting. The Waverley - Waitotara Racing Club will hold its annual race meeting on Labour Day on the Wanganui racecourse if the metropolitan body will give its permission, and it is not likely it will refuse to do so. The contractors for ’ the new stand at Waverley have been delayed owing to inability to get material, and consequently the stand will not be ready in time for the annual meeting. The Marton Jockey Club has decided on a 7st. minimum for its annual meeting on September 1. It is more than likely that when Nobleman is next seen out it will be as an aspirant for jumping honours, as if is intended to school him when he is put into work again. The many friends of Mr. Tom Cameron, who recently sold his farm at Bulls, and intends taking up his residence at New Plymouth, will regret to learn that this well-known sporting enthusiast is in an indifferent state of health. The tightening up of the restrictions on bookmakers is evidently having an effect. One or two who have been operating here on an extensive scale have given the game best recently. However, though there has been less betting on horse racing there has been much more on football matches, and quite a lot of money is wagered on all the big games played here now. It appears that there are some who will bet on something. If they cannot invest their money on a racehorse they will find other sports on which to gamble. The annual meeting of the Feild-

ing Club will be held at Feilding on Friday next, the 23rd inst. The report to be presented congratulates members on another successful season. The report states that the day’s racing which was' lost owing to the war restriction was restored during the past season, and this, added to the general prosperity of the country, caused a very considerable increase in the receipts for the year. Both the spring and autumn meetings were very largely attended, and the receipts from both gates and totalisator were greatly in excess of any previous year. The sum of £179,936 was invested through the machine. The new automatic totalisator has arrived in New Zealand, and is waiting completion of the necessary alterations to the building before being installed, but it is expected that everything will be in readiness for the next spring meeting in November. The scheme of improvements to the course as designed by Mr... Hill, of Auckland, which was held in abeyance during the war, has now been commenced, the- entrances and boundary fences being the. first. work to be carried out; considerable progress has already been made,, but it will take some years to complete the whole programme. It is with regret that the committee recorded the death of four members of the club, i.e., Mrs. Hastie. Messrs. Barron Green, W. Pearson, and W. J. Neill. The' president, vice-president. . and following members; of committee retire in accordance with rules, but are eligible

for re-election: Messrs. Booth, Gorton, Parsons and Sutton. Mr. F. F. Haggitt has also resigned in consequence of his leaving the district.