The Evening Mail. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1878.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 764, 23 September 1878, Page 2

The Evening Mail. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1878.

On Wednesday evening next, Mr Sherwin —in accordance with his announced intention—will, at a meeting of the North Otago Turf Club, move that the Oamaru race" meeting shall be held in the first week of December, instead of as heretofore. The suggestion is a good one, and whilst many arguments can be adduced why the change should be made, none can be urged against it. If the Oamaru race meeting ie held in the first week of December, it will not clash with any other similar colonial event of any importance. A glance at the times of the various race meetings will prove this. The Christchurch meeting takes place first week in November, and the Auckland about Christmas—but the last mentioned, in consequence of the distance at which it is held from here, exercises but little influenco over our race meeting ; the Wellington meeting occurs shortly after that of Auckland, and the Dunedin meeting is held in February. But there is another advantage to be gained by the change. By fixing the date of our races for the first week in December, it would

come before—and not follow after, as., heretofore—a number of the Colonial race meetings. Decided disadvantages accrue from waiting until the best horses have been run two or three times before having them here. They are jaded with the hard work, andit is probable, therefore, that we may be only treated to an exhibition affording us some idea of what_they could have done had they beenmgood form, The principal attraction of a race meeting is the freshness and activity of the horses that run thereat, and we submit that it m utterly impossible for a h..rse to be fresh and active after having run at nearly,| every principal race meeting in the Colony —as is the case with some of the best ] horses—and just having finished at Dunedui. Moreover, by the suggested new arrangement the harvest would not be interfered with, and that means a great deal. Farmers just before harvest would feel inclined to indulge m recreation such as that which a race meeting offers, and would probably increase the interest by bringing some competitors nto the field ; but with the harvest to ittend to, many would from compulsion -liOoae work before pleasure. These are ;he main arguments why the motion 01 Vtr. Sheewin, that we should follow mmediateiy after Christchurch, should neet with favorable consideration at the lands of those who will nest Wednesday svening consider the question.