WELLINGTON'S GOLD CUP MEETING

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 139, 10 December 1930, Page 8

WELLINGTON'S GOLD CUP MEETING

The outstanding feature of the Wellington Trotting Club's Gold Cup Meeting, to be held at the Hutt Park on Saturday, 17th January, is the provision of the first thousand pounds stake attached to' a trotting event in this centre. This will be the prize money allotted to the New Zealand Trotting Gold Cup. The total sum of £2550 will be given in stakes for the day. The limit for the Gold. Cup has been fixed at 4min 27s for the tjvo miles, as was the case last year,. and it is certain that a large field of New Zealand's best horses will face the starter. The programme generally has been carefully arranged. The unhoppled trotters will have two events to compete for, with total stakes amounting to £150. ' The novice class will have the Probationers' Handicap, of £150, for horses that can do a mile and five furlongs in 4min or hetter, which is equal to 3min 42sec for one and a half miles. In addition, they will have the Novice Dash Handicap, of a mile and a quarter, with a 3miu 4sec limit, and a stake of £150. The club is to be cred&ed with doing ite share to encourage beginners, as most of the other clubs operating in main centres have eliminated maiden class races from their programmes altogether. There will be three events for improving pacers. The January Handicap, a tain 38sec class, two mile event, with j a stake of £325;. the Improvers' Han-i dicap, of a mile and five furlongs, with a limit of 3min 50sec, and a stake of £225; jmd the Dispatch Handicap, of £250, for horses that can do 2min Soscc or better for a mile and a quarter. '.Patrons who visit the Hutt Park for this meeting will find that provision has been made for purchasing ten-shilling tickets at both totalisator houses; the machine at the stables end of the grounds having been enlarged to provide for this. To assist trainers in getting their.charges fit, 'a new track is being formed inside the cinder track. It has also been decided Ho give horses that are about to compete at meetings a limited number.of runs on the outside of the grass track. The.increased patronage and consequent activities of the club has developed a need for reorganisation in many directions, and this is now the 'subject of review by the stewards.