COURSE IMPROVEMENTS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4928, 20 January 1926, Page 2

COURSE IMPROVEMENTS.

OHINEMURI CLUB’S PROPERTY. NEW TRAINING TPiACKS. In spite of the fact that the Ohinemuri Jockey Club carried out considerable work aud spent a layge sum of money in improving its property last year, .this year it has undertake* l an ambitious scheme in the provision of training tracks* Last year the club spent the bulk of the money on improving the appearance of the Thames Road frontage of the property by the erection of .handsome gateways and a considerable length of fencing.

A visit to the course was made yesterday in company with the caretaker, and it was learned that the cointractors have just finished the formation of a "thirty-feet grass* and a tenfeet ploughed track, the bends on which have been ra.ised sufficiently to make them ideal for training purposes. The new trades are situated inside the course proper. The grass track lies next to the; rails, then the “plough.” the inside edge of which is to be fenced and drained. The provision of suitable .training tracks h,as exercised the minds of the committee for some years, and now that the scheme is nearing fruition it is on the cards that a largo number of horses will be trained at Paeroa. It is generally conceded that the local course compares very favourably with any other in the province. With the provision of the extra facilities it is considered that all available accommodation will be taken. In addition to the work carried out on the course proper various, other improvements have been completed'Or are in course of being carried ouL About three chains of post and rail fencing has been erected along the top back stretch of the course near the gully. The barrier posts have also been painted and renovated.

From a point between the six and seven furlong barriers to the eight furlong barrier, and also on the inside of the course from the small gate to near the judge’s box, a total distance of about 25 chains has been drained by means of 6in field tiles. The large drains hii,ve been piped wlith 12in pipes, and then filled in.' When the drain around the edge of the new. ploughed track is completed thete will be a thorough system of drainage over the whole of the area, - and there will be no unsightly and dangerous open drains. During the early spring the race track was liberally top-dressed with, soil and ina.nure, and at the present time it is looking very well. The area is shortly to be mown and rolled, when it is expected a first-class track will be the result. In order to ge.t the best herpes in/ the province to compete at its meet-: ings the Jockey (Club is making a determined effort to provide every possible facility and convenience for: owners and trainers. By the time of the next meeting in March the property should be looking a picture. THE GARDENS. A large measure of praise is due to Mrs Eugene Shaw for the work dosie and the skilful and picturesque manner in which she has again this year laid out the flower-beds along themain entrance to the grandstand. In * conversation with Mrs Shaw, who is an amateur gardener of no mean ability, it was leagued that she had just completed planting put 2088 seedlings ill the beds. In the corners on each side of the main gateway pretty little rockeries have been built and treeferns and flax planted. In the beds rows of scarlet salvias- form the background, a,nd hundreds of portulacas. have been planted out. By March it is expected that the beds will be a blaze of scarlet and gold. A long flower-bed, running nearly the full distance of the drive, has been planted with rows of scarlet amaranthus, ,• golden and s,carlet celosias, and French marigolds. A smaller but> long and narrow bed contains rows of. zinnias', African marigolds, and antirrhinump'. Over 200 assorted asters, petunias, and phlox Driunmondi have been planted artistically in small oval and diamond-shhjped beds on the opposite side of the drive. The task of rearing and planting out such a large number-p£ seedlings lips taken considerable time, and the blending of the colouns in the different beds reflects the greatest credit on Mrs Shaw, who has done the work practically unaided and V without thought of monetary recognition for the services rendered.