TARANAKI JOCKEY CLUB

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 148, 19 December 1911, Page 7

TARANAKI JOCKEY CLUB

A PROGRESSIVE BODY. . The -Taranaki Jockey, Club evidently realises- that its success is dependent on its studying the convenience of its patrons, i.e., horse-owners and' the clean sport-loving section of the public. During the Tear improvements have been effected that cannot fail to he appreciated by all. A viis>t to the racecourse yesterday shows that every preparation has been made for the forthcoming race meeting on. December 26 and 27. The course and appointments possess a clean tidy appearance, evidence of thorough care and attention on the part of the' caretaker, Mr. J. Blewman. The lawn is in beautiful order, and its green sward s-lKVukl! prove most refreshing, the moisture which we liave experienced this year having a beneficial effect in preventing it having a dry scorched appearance. Tlip. first improvement that one notices is the totalisator house. This has been re-modelled' and enlarged, and investors cannot fail to appreciate the improvements. Additional investing windows have been provided both inside, where £1 tickets will be in vogue, and out-, side, where 10s will be the price of a ticket. Crowding should be considerably minimised, for there are six windows where £1 tickets can be obtained, and four where 10s tickets can be purchased. There is also a window where large investors can. assemble, as £o is the smallest amount that will be accepted there. There are also two separate windows where change can, be obtained, so that the ticket sellers will not be delayed giving change. -Dividend seekers will have their choice of five pay-out openings dnside and four outside. This year th£ club has instituted the policy of working its own totalisator, and a machine of the latest pattern has been installed It is one of Turnbull and Jones' 6ilent Machines for 24 horses, and the register is elevated' so that the public will havj a good view of the position that their fancy occupies in the market. It will require a staff of akout 40 to manipulate the machines. Mr. O'Callaghan, of Ilawcra, who controls the operations of the Egmont Racing Clubs machine, will have charge, and with the exception of two or three the balance will 'be local men. The committe.fi will be pleased to have any visitors inspect the working oif the machine on race days. They will then be convinced that all is square and above board, and that no tickets are rung on when the winner is in sight. The totalisator room is airy, roomy, and well ventilated, so that the staff will work under favorable conditions. Messrs CHIT and Grayling have carried' out the designs of Mr. Messenger, architect, in a workmanlike manneT. The building is painted l cream with red facings, and it is understood that the club has adopted these for its colors and all future painting will be carried out in these colors, i The next .building to be treated is the grandstand. Messrs. Bcllringer Bros, have executed the painting. The publican's 'booth near by looks rather out of keeping with the general scheme, and will' probably be replaced with a more pretentious building. The luncheon room lias been fitted with chairs in lieu of seats. Considerable improvements have been made in the saddling paddock. The i small hillock at the far end has been levelled off, and sown in grass. There is now ample room for the erection- of another row of loose boxes. A new hosing shed with concrete floor has been erected and the sand roll has been enlarged to suit the requirements of trainers. The course proper has also been improved, and thrown out by the High School to widen out the bend. This makes the course nearly a mile round. The training tracks have also -been altered- to suit the course, the plough gallop having been continued right round the bend. Next season it is proposed to laY this down in grass -for a training track, awl place the plough gallop inside that. This, in the opinion of trainees and others, will he a great improvement, as> the ploughed land will act as inside rails for the grass track.

The club Ims received good acceptances, and all that is wanted' for a successful meeting now is fine weather, and as we have had none yet, there should be two good days available.