WHIPPET RACING STAR TS IN AUCKLAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 607, 8 March 1929, Page 7

WHIPPET RACING STAR TS IN AUCKLAND

First Track Meet to be Held at Carlaw Park To-Morrow —Manawatu Club Sends Team of High Class Dogs to Set Sport Going—Auckland Enthusiasts

Keenly Alert to Prospects of Regular Meetings - Little Dogs Double Man’s Speedin Terrific Dashes Over Flat and Hurdles

—Former North of England Sportsmen Give Benefit of Expe?'ience to Auckland —Sport is Making Steady Advance in the Dominion.

In the good years after the war, no pastime was more popular in the North of England than whippet racing. The many keen sportsmen of the North and the Midlands brought the sport to a high standard with fast racing dogs of the midget variety, capable of flashing over a furlong run at twice the pace of a man, or clearing the little hurdles with barely a check in their terrific burst of pace over short distances. years past, Christchurch has been the home of the sport in New Zealand, and is the present headquarters of the New Zealand Whippet Association. Great headway has also been made at Manawatu, and it is from here that a contingent of speedy four-footed performers will assemble at Carlaw Park on Saturday to introduce this fascinating sport to Auckland. In Auckland itself, a live Whippet Club is already functioning and it is keenly alert to the prospects of establishing the sport here on a

regular basis. The Auckland Whippet Club was formed in October 1925, the prime movers being Messrs. W. Ratcliffe and J. Wilkin, who both have had extensive experience of the sport in the North of England. Mr. Wilkin has had a life-time connection with whippet-racing, owning and racing some of the best dogs in England, while for many years, he acted as haudicapper and judge in the counties of Durham, Northumberland, Lancashire and the Midlands. Associated with these two gentlemen in the foundation of the Auckland Club, is Mr. C. Hardy, who owns both whippets and greyhounds, and who has been very successful with his dogs in many shows. Mr. E. T. Howell is also a well-known Auckland fancier and judge, who is taking a prominent part in the establishment of the sport in Auckland, and with these men at

the head of affairs, the sport is bound to go ahead. Some of the fastest dogs in the Dominion will be seen between the tapes at Carlaw Park on Saturday.

They have been brought to Auckland by well-known dog owners of the Manawatu who between them muster a team which could compete with any in New Zealand. Hot Stuff (Manawatu Cup winner), Nanette (the imported Australian crack hurdler), Cayenne (New Zealand Grand National Hurdle winner), Cold Dust (winner of several important flat and hurdle events), Bonnie Doon (second by a nose in last New Zealand Cup race), and Miss Rensom, one of the speediest whippets on the flat in New Zealand), are only a few of the fast dogs which will be seen in action. The Manawatu Club, from a modest beginning, lias through the en-

thusiastic support of some of the Dominion’s most successful owners, graduated to the position of one of the leading clubs in New Zealand. The club receives remarkable support not only from owners, but from the general public and is thus able to boast dogs which are among the best at present pacing in this country.

In Auckland itself, thanks to the enthusiasm and energy of the little band of officials mentioned here, the sport promises to make good headway. Already, there are some first class dogs in training, and with experience against the crack dogs of other centres, they will soon be holding their own from tape to tape with the best in the land. Saturday afternoon’s meet at Carlaw Park, to be followed by a series of races on St. Patrick’s day, should give the sport a good start in Auckland.