Greymouth Evening Star, AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1901. SUCCESSFUL TROTTING CLUB.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 16 January 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star, AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1901. SUCCESSFUL TROTTING CLUB.

Titk Greymouth Trotting Club is to bo congratulated upon the success it has attained so far, and is apparently likely to yet attain. About ton years ago it started in a very small way indeed, but a number of gentlemen interested in the matter “stuck to tbo concern,’’ and now have the satisfaction of knowing that the sport has caught public favor, and that to all appearance there is smooth water and fair weather ahead. This year the club give in stakes .CBGO, and this sum will in all probability bo raised to £IOOO next year. In the past the club have had a great deal to contend wdth, and has spent a deal of money in its efforts to put down swindling. During its existence it has disqualified and otherwise punished a large number of owners, trainers, and horses. To do this the Club on two occasions sent its able Secretary—Mr Richard Ilungerford—to the North Island and Canterbury to prosecute enquiries. The result in both cases was satisfactory—the punishment of the offenders. At the last meeting a rider was disqualified, and several cautions administered, and altogether the club has a name among owners of being a stiff one, and one that it does not do to take liberties with. And in trotting matters a Club cannot be too strict. Some months ago the club approached the owners of Victoria Park with a view to purchasing the property, and eventually a bargain was struck at £B2OO. The Club got the required sum on seven j 7 ear debentures bearing 8 per cent, and agreeing to pay off at least £2OO per annum. The loan has so far been under four months in existence, yet the club last night were enabled to pay off £3OO, which together with £4O already retired is certainly a good start. As to the trot-

ting ground, the tra K is admitted to be one of the best, if not the best in the colony, the app iutments are excellent, but still “urther improvements are contomp: led, which when finished will put the Greymouth Club’s property a decided first. When the loan is a little further reduced the stakes will be greatly increased, and with fair success there is every prospect of the club being able in a year or two to give from £ISOO to £2OOO per annum in stakes. This sum will bring together the best trotters in the colony.