STAKE INCREASE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 53, 18 March 1937, Page 8

STAKE INCREASE

For H.B. Jockey Club's Jubilee Meeting £600 IMPROVEMENT The autumn meeting 0f the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club will take place on May 8 and 12 and, by a eoincidence, the 50th Anniversary of the Hawke's Bay Cup and the Coronation occur at the same time, thus lending a special and double signilicance to the fixture. The committee have increased the stakes by over £600 for the two days. All classes have been well catered for, while the juvenile evqnts will be conhned to two-year-olds instead of being for two- and three-year-olds, as iu reeent years. On the first day the most important event will be the Hawke's Bay Cup for which the stake will be £300, including a presentation Jubilee Goid Cup valued at 50 gus. The first Hawke's Bay Cup was run in 1888 and was won by Mr (afterwards Sir) George Clifford with Crutchfield. Previous to that the designation of this race was the Napier Handicap, which was first run for in 1875. The second day tlie big race will be ■rhe Coronation Handicap of £225, including a 20-guinea silver cup, and. will also be run over ten furlongs. The two burdle races each carry a £120 stake, while for each of the maiden events a £100 stake is offered. For the open sprint each day the stake as to be £150, while both the middle-distance and the sprint hack races will carry prize money of £100 apiece. Taken all round, the committee has framed a very neat programme of interesting events and.is to be congratulated on seeing its -way to make such substantial increases in the prize money. It is understood that a special invitation is being extended to Sir Charles Clifford to , attend the meeting as the inheriter of the popular blue-and-gold chequers carried by the winner of the first Hawke's Bay Cup, and it is to be hoped this will be accepted, even if the colours are not unfurled.