RACING

Hokitika Guardian, 29 September 1933, Page 6

RACING

A WISE. CHANGE. The Westland Racing Club, says a Christchurch paper, has made a wise decision in regard to its Christmas ■meeting. This fixture, coming at such a busy period, will be much better suited by two seven-race programmes than by eight races a day. It alone 0 f the West Coast dubs has to run all gallops programmes at this meeting. Owners and trainers will appreci .te the action of the club in giving practically the same .prize money for fourteen races as it did for sixteen. The total this year is £IO7O, as compared with £llOO last Christmas. The change should make for better fields and wagering. In addition to the £IOO stake, the Westland Mile, an open I event on the first day, will have a case of cutlery as a trophy for the winning owner. On the same programme will be the Hack Cup, one mile, of £IOO. Oil the second day the I heief event is the Hoki.ika Handicap, of £IOO, one mile and a quarter. EARLY DAYS AT HOKITIKA. 'One of the members present at the lahnual meeting of the Westland Racing Club at Hokitika was Mr W. AThompson, “Father of the Club.’' whose heaith was toasted. In response. Mr Thompson gave some interesting particulars of his association with the club dating from 1866 onwards.-; He was one of the enthusiasts who mapped out the present racecourse when it was pVrj jof the dense bush. Ehrlier the club had used a, track oh an island in the Hokitika River, but this became imperilled by erosion.