OUR NEW YEAR RACING CARNIVAL

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 321, 31 December 1936, Page 3

OUR NEW YEAR RACING CARNIVAL

FORTY-FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC RECORD OF THE STRATFORD RACING CLUB SINCE ,-| B9 | ... •

The prospects for the opening day of the Stratford Racing Club’s to-morrow are bright, and with fine weather throughout the two days another successful meeting seems assured. The policy adopted by the club since its founding in 1891 has been a factor in the progress of the town and district, but the support received from the sporting public was the chief incentive to advancement. It was the increasing demand upon its resources that successive presidents and committees have endeavoured to meet, and make; every post a winning one.

The club has been lucky in having at its head, men with progressive ideas and imbued with the right spirit of keeping the club in the forefront of sporting institutions in the Dominion. Mr D. J. Malone has filled the position for some four years with credit to himself and the club, and has been fortunate in receiving loyal support from the members of the committee at all times. The public can rely, as in the past, upon the arrangements for the conduct of the annual gathering being well and faithfully carried out as far as is humanly possible.

IMPROVING THE COURSE, k Te Kapua Park, the scene of the clubs operations, is yearly being improved in accordance with the convictions of the executive that it is an asset to the town, as one of the open spaces which become more valuable and appreciated, a? the years roll on. To-day it is a .picture to delight every visitor. The native bush is a feature Of the property, and' the several forest glades which picnic parties use in ever-increasing numbers each year have a charm that is not soon forgotten by those -.who have once enjoyed the pleasing conditions.

A fact in connection with the club, which, is worthy of notice here, goes as far back as the 90’s.. It is not generally known that Stratford owes to the club the inclusion in l King Edward Park of that section of land lying between Hamlet,Street and Brecon Road, which is at present the scene of a L' big job to reconstruct it as an athletic sportsground. In the early dayd of the club it was proposed to make the racecourse on the section, but it was found to be.unsuitable, and later was made a municipal reserve.

;• The Chief Events. ‘ The Stratford Cup still holds pride of place sin the programme, arid now the stake is £4OO, compared with £125 40 years ago. Regulation won in 1905 and 1907. .Mr. S. Pitt, ex-presi-dent of the club, was successful in 1913 withTupuhi and in the following year with. Red Lupin. Mr. F. Selwood’s Crawford won in 1917, and the same owner’s Dingle in 1913. Mr. H. Cleland was twice successful with Bright Glow, first in 1928, and then in 1930. At the last meeting Davistock. owned by Mr. A. H. Trotter, brought off a surprise. TKe Malone Memorial Handicap, the principal event on the second day of the meeting, dates from 1916, and has also-produced many exciting contests, but ho competitor has been successful on more than one occasion.

Interest in these events is still as -Keen as ever, and public enthueiasm was quickened to-day by the arrival of many of the competitors for the meeting. The first race I® timed to start at 11.40. The lawns and flower-beds look very well, and the track is reported tc'be in splendid order. Ail that ilw remains is for the god of the weather to smile kindly upon the clwb'a activities. Then all writ be Well.