PETANE RACECOURSE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3844, 12 November 1883, Page 3

PETANE RACECOURSE.

[To the Editor of the Daily Telegraph.] Sir,—Tlr's being shearing time, and after spending a jolly day on Friday last at Petane, tho only timo I had to scan the daily papers avus yesterc.ay. You may think, and justly too, that I should havo dived into ii different sort of literature. I didn't; yet I hope to come out all right. I read your report of the Petane races, and must state that it Avas fair and just. This is more than I can say of your morning contemporary. Tho reporter of that journal must either have been steeped in water, or soaked in something of a stronger native, when he stated that the back of the Petane course was not fit for owners to risk the starting of valuable animals. Did not all the horses engaged start ou Friday ! AVas it not stated by trainers and jockej's, all of whom Avalked over tho course, that tho ground avus in splendid condition, and also remarking at tho time that it Avas something marvellous tho springy nature of the ti'"f after such a doAvnpour of rain that avo Avitnesscd on the Saturday and Sunday before ? I don't mind betting two drinks that the party Avho Avrotc the report in the Herald never moved from the stand except to have a "spoonfull," or swaMow a pick of something in tho hotel quietly. Dear knows Aye have quite enough to contend Avith out here in trying to get up sports for holiday parties Avithout having to battle with those Avho Avish to throw cold Avater on orv course iv order to make it boggy for the benefit of some place else. I must say there were some people at tho races avlio, if they had started to Avalk around the course, Avould have stuck at the f-"st post, and then Avould have needed to be lashed to the 4 x 2 in order that they should not possibly sink into oblivion and give our mutual friend, Dr Ilitchings, a ttr.-n.—l am, kc, Petane Valley.