Totalisator Turf Topics.

Free Lance, Volume V, Issue 216, 20 August 1904, Page 21

Totalisator Turf Topics.

By the ' Old 'Un. "

THE proposal of the Wellington Racing Club Committee to purchase a fieehold for a racecourse, and eiect suitable appointments, having received the unanimous appioval of members of the club, no time will be lost m acquiring the pioperty under ofter. The president (Mr. J. B. Haicourt) put the pioposal veiy clearly before members afc the meeting on inday last, and, after hearing him, it was obvious that a fieehold course- must be obtained to enable the club to maintain its position as a metropolitan body. Membeis of the club, horse-owneis, trainers, and numbers of the general public aie in agieement that a capital course and training tiack can be foimed at Silvei stream. Provision has been made in the Committee's scheme for a large number of loose-boxes to be ci ected for visiting horses, and suitable accommodation for their attendants. The latter, who generally airnve by late evening trains, will find it a great convenience to be detrained in close pioximity to their stabling. Wairarapa visitors will be enabled to remain and witness the last event on the programme, and then catch their train and reach their homes the same evening. City patrons will be landed at Wellington by the tram in less time than is now occupied in covering the distance between the Hutt course (via the pipe bridge) and the city. \ lewed from every point, the proposed an angement is sure to meet with the appioval of all parties. Mr. A. E. Whyte, the secietany, is sanguine of the complete ultimate success of the undertaking. He has displayed much, tact and business acumen in his negotiations with the owners of the property, and also in other matters of detail m connection with the scheme. Once the property is acquired, and the funds provided for the rmpiovements, Mr. Whyte, aided by what he has obseived on the Manawatu and Canterbury racecourses, should be able to lay out a course and erect appointments that will be second to none m New Zealand. Mi . Moorhouse made a very timely and pertinent remark when he vouchsafed the opinion that those members who might feel appiehensive as to the continuance of the totalizator in New Zealand need not fear that such an occurrence would prevent the club carrying on racing. A racing club with a good course adjacent to a city with the population of Wellington would always receive sufficient patronage, even although clubs in the centre of small populations would be forced to go under. Mr. Gibbons mentioned that the Horowhenua Club had spent some £3000 in the formation of their racecourse. If his statement is oarrect, it is a strong argument in favour of Wellington having a course of its own. When a country club could form a racecourse at such a cost, Wellington would be sadly lacking in enterprise were it to hesitate to grapple with the scheme mapped out by the Committee of the W.R.C Members of the Wellington Racing Club possibly recognise that this "was their last opportunity of obtaining a freehold course in the neighbourhood of the city. Chances had been allowed to slip bv when land nearer the oity could have been secured This, no doubt, was borne in mind by those who met and agreed that the present land Should be secured forthwith. ♦ * * Training operations at the Hutt are of an uiuntei esting description, owing to most of the horses that are m commission being in the South Island, taking part in the C.J.C. winter meeting The New Zealand Cup pair, Onewa and Cyrus, are looking well, and doing useful work. Ballarat and several juveniles in Mr. W. Davis's stable look well to the eye, but have not yet been given sti ong work. The occupants of the Pourua stable are reported all well, with the exception of Porirua, who has again broken down The Cup pair, Achilles and Ghoorka, get through sound work daily Exmooi is also all right again, and is being exercised with his stable companions. Boris, Novgorod, Valois, and a number of youngsters appear in the best of health, and should do their owner credit in the near future.

Mr. George Morse, who has leplaced Mi . Evett as handicappei to the Wanganui Jockey Club, has hitherto f 1 amed the handicaps for the hack events. Mr. Morse is a farmer in the neighbourhood of Wanganui, his fatlicr, Major Morse, being known to old-time lacmgmen as a breeder of racing stock in the seventies. He also raced many hoises of his own breeding. I understand the reason given for displacing Mil. Evett is that, owing to his residing so far north he seldom witnessed racing on this coast, and it was considered advisable to employ a man who could watch the performances of the hoises whose weights he has to adjust. Hoise-owneis have spoken with no uncertain sound concerning handicappeis dealing with horses that they do not see race Many clubs are insisting on their officials being present at meetings wheie horses aie racing that a,ie likely to come under the review of their handicapper This is only just to horse-owners. It is obvious that they deserve every consideration at the hands of clubs, as they not infiequently at great cost provide the sport that draws the club's patrons 1 to their gatherings. The Grand National Steeplechase fell to Slow Tom, foi which hoise I have always had a good woid. He was my final selection in last week's notes, as readeis will have noted Pipi I picked to fill a place. He ran second, and has filled the same position thiee years in succession. Slow Tom was taught the rudiments of jumping by his former owner. Miss Button, fiom whom Jack Taggart pui chased him. His lady owner frequently rode him ovei all descriptions of fences. The Canterbury Jockey Club had splendid weathei for their first day's lacing. Although a number of sports went Soiith to witness the contest for the Grand National Steeplechase and other events, there were many who preferi ed to invest their money away from the couise. The opening event, the Hunters' Hurdle Race, fell to Wondeiful, whose victory was predicted in last week's sporting notes. Mahutonga was a popular tip foi the Winter Cup by those in the vicinity of Parliament House, Mi. "Timi Kara," a connection of the ow nei , being advised that the horse had a capital chance Shrapnel Shell, who was runner-up, was also strongly supported. The fact of the veteian ridei , It. Denitt, having the mount influenced many to risk their money on the Wellington horse. Kremlin was well backed, as also was Fleka.