AUCKLAND’S FIRST FIXTURE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 464, 20 September 1928, Page 6

AUCKLAND’S FIRST FIXTURE

THE success of the )larton and \Vanganui meetings, with which the new racing season com—menced in the North Island, was a promising augury for the future of the sport, more par< ticularly in this province, with its large population. Then, again, the large fields that will be seen in opposition here on Saturday and Monday next, when the Avondale Jockey Club’s fixture is to be held 011 the suburban course, would appear to justify the contention that as in the past, there will he no dearth of thoroughbred racehorses to contest the valuable stakes offered in this wealthy part of the Dominion. So one can be well prepared for the Avondale Jockey Club scoring a great success this week-end. The following Saturday the Pakuranga Hunt Club will conduct its annual race meeting at the picturesque Ellerslie course, where the ’chasers have to negotiate the famous hill——without which Ellerslie would be a strange place—and here again the hold that hunting has still in this motoring age is reflected in the excellent nominations. Another week later, Saturday and Blonday, October 6 and ‘2B, there is the very important Auckland RC. spring meeting, with its valuable stake money to be won, and at which all the best horses in commission in the North Island will be competing. From this onwards there will scarcely be a slack week-end for provincial race-goers. Recent race meetings have given an indication that the financial stringency, or the worst part of it, has passed, for the totalisator is regarded as an excellent barometer in this connection, and judging on the investments recorded by Southern clubs, the tide has turned. In View of this fact, the experience of the Avondale Jockey Club this weekend will be awaited with interest.