RACING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8502, 3 August 1907, Page 6

RACING.

TURF NOTES. (By Zetland.) Nominations for the Wairarapa Hunt Club Meeting, to be held at Clareville on the 15th inst., will close with the sceretary, Mr Norman H. James, to-night, at 9 o'clock. Judging by the number of hunters now j,in work the jumping events should fill well and the flat races are sure to attract the attention of both owners and trainers throughout ±he district. The meeting provides ;an exceptional opportunity for trainers to give a number of their charges a run with the colours up, especially in the flat events, as it is an accepted fact that horses required for early spring events will be more benefited by a run at the meeting than they would be by several gallops on the training track. A number of the hunters that are being nominated are in splendid condition, and the sporting public may expect to witness some spirited contests over the steeplechase course. I understand quality will be well represented in the Hack Races and Ladies' Bracelet K \ndicap. The course will be in good oiJerfor the fixture, and in regard to the general arrangements nothing will be left undone that will conduce to success. Owing to the fact that the number of nominations received for the office of stewards of the Masterton Racing Club did not exceed the positions to be filled, and therefore no election was necessary, the attendance at the Club's annual meeting on Thursday was not so large as usual. The members, however, acknowledge that the working of the Club is in good hands, and a glance at the list of names of the officials shows that the Club is fortunate in the fact that elected are good workers in its interests. The question of affecting improvements to the Club's Dro/erty, more especially in connection with the buildings, has already been brought before the stewards. The appointments should certainly be brought up-to-date, and the wisdom of this "has been most noticeable with many clubs that have recently acted in a progressive spirit and had material improvements effected on their properties. The Masterton Club's course proper promi _-es to be in splendid condition for the October meeting. During the winter sheep have been depastured thereon, with the result that the grass has been kept close, and the roots have spread considerably. Mr H. Welch, the newly-appointed caretaker, may be depended upon to have the training tracks much improved as soon as the continuous wet weather ceases. In ten days the New Zealand j Grand * National Meeting—that is j creati ig a deep interest among the sporting public of the colony—will be in full swing. The contests for the National Steeplechase, oc three and a-half miles, and the National Hurdles, of two miles, promise to be really spirited contests, inasmuch as the stake money attached to each is £l,ooo,and therefore every contestant will be "a trier." Haydn, winner of the Wellington July Steeplechase at Trentham, last week, having been withdrawn, there are now sixteen in ; the list. Kiatere, 13.3, is fancied | in some quarters,' but with such a ] steadier his chance cannot be i assessed too highly when it is taken ! into consideration that the country ] to be traversed is somewhat on the \ severe side. Phaetonitis, 11.9, is j galloping and jumping in great style at Riccarton, and it is not easy to select one to beat this son of Phaeton. ! Slow Tom's condition is fah'y solid; j Evenlode put up a good performance at Trentham, und Eclair winner of the Hawke's Lay Steeplechase, is doing well. The winner may come from the three last named. No less than thirty-one still remain in the National Hurdles. Paritutu, 11.4, is said to be jumping well in his schooling work, and will probably start favourite. Cuiragno 11.13, Merriwai 10.0, Asteroid 10.0, Lull 9.11, may be hard to beat, while Shrapnel 10.8, Regulation 9.9, and Le Beau 9.3, may run prominently. C.J.C. MEETING. By Telegraph—Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, August 2. Achilles was scratched for the New Zealand Cup this morning, and Scatter Cash for all engagements at the Grand National meeting. MARTON JOCKEY CLUB. In connection with the Marton Jockey Club's meeting, which will be held on September 4th and sth, it might be stated that this is the first club between New Plymouth and Wellington on the West Coast that has decided to give the double machine a trial and there is no doubt that it will be a successful venture. The racecourse is situated at the Martm Junction, the terminus of the North Island Main Trunk line and the north and south trains, time-table being very suitable, a record meeting is predicted. The course has been fenced since the last meeting, and will be painted before the race days. The saddling and outside paddock have been considerably enlarged, and the jockeys' room doubled in size, and an ambulance ward erected. The steeplechase course is an ideal one, and instead of going through the centre of the enclosure as formerly the field for the Hunt Cup will start at the mile and a distance post and over the following obstacles:— Double hurdle, brush, sod wall, coop, brush, live fence, coop, and over the Fame course again, which should give the hunters at present in training an f excellent opportunity of showing their jumping abilities. Nominations .will close with the secretary, Mr A. 'Way, at Marton, on Friday, August IGth.

WAIRARAPA HUNT CLUB STEEPLECHASE MEETING. NOMINATIONS. Nominations for all events at the Wairarapa Hunt Club's Steeplechase Meeting, to be run on the TaratahiCarterton Racecourse, on Thursday, August 15th, will close with the secretary, Mr N. H. James, Masterton, at 9 o'clock to-night.