A MEETING FOR LOCAL HORSES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 844, 17 January 1883, Page 2

A MEETING FOR LOCAL HORSES.

To xhb Editor.

Sib, —I saw from a local 5n yoar issue' of the 11th inst. that a motion affirming the advisability of holding a meeting con* fined to local horses on New Year’s Day was withdrawn at a meeting of the Ashburton Racing Club held on the 9di inst. I was not present at the meeting in question, so I do not know the nature of the arguments which were used against the motion, and which led to its withdrawal Probably it was thought that it would clash with the numerous mixed sporting and athletic fixtures which are held in the County on the first day of the yefcp,’ and thus the meeting would be a financial failure. But, Sir, I do not lhin|t that this would be the case to any appreciable extent. Those wheae particular penchAnt - is the turf do not patronise these» mixed gatherings to any extent at present, : and they would do so still less, were race meeting held in Ashburton on New - Year's Day. As U is-I fear those who i take a delight in the “ noble , British pastime:,” as it is so often and sotrulyi termed, wHI betake themselves north-* ward, to witness the Summer fleeting of

theC.J.C. But there Is another standpoint froin which I think the matter 'should be looked at. A meeting nobfined to local horses would be a capital means of “ fostering local industry,” if I may so term it. I believe your sporting contributor ‘‘ Vestas ” some time ago advocated a race for two or three-yOar-olds owned in the Counly, by way of ehcouragjng local sportsmen to become horse owners, and I should imagine that is race meeting confined to local horses on New Year’s Day would be a fitting occaaion f to give effect to his suggestion. Of from a racing point of view, the proposed meeting would not at first be a great success ; neither would it result in a finincial benefit to the Club. But we all remember that at first the O. J.C. Autumn .Meeting was anything but a financial .success, and now it pays handsomely. I ho'pe we shall hear more of this proposition, although shelved for the present. —l am, etc. Jacket and Cap.