WELLINGTON PONY AND GALLOWAY CLUB.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 903, 24 February 1908, Page 5

WELLINGTON PONY AND GALLOWAY CLUB.

INITIAL RACE MEETING

(Special Reporter)

The newly-formed Wellington Pony and Galloway Racing Club held its first meeting on the new course at Miramar (Wellington) on Saturday, and, judging by the success of the initial efforts, the club should have a prosperous career. The promoters have chosen an ideal spot for a racecourse. It can be reached by tram or boat from the city, and both these modes of conveyance were heavily taxed on Saturday by the sport-loving section of the community. Considering that it was only a very short time ago that the club was formed and a start was made to prepare the grounds for racing, excellent progress has been made with the appointments. The running track, which is about five furlongs long, was in good order, and the grandstand and the other requirements incidental to a racecourse are up-to-date. Th'i attendance on Saturday numbered about two thousand people, and probably would have been greater were it not for the fact that a hill overlooks the course at the back and a large number of people took advantage of this s elevated position to view the racing free of cost. The racing during the day was splendid, and the programme of six events passed off without any hitch. The majority of the contestants hailed from the Wairarapa, West Coast and Manawatu, and were fine stamps of thoroughbreds, such well-known thoroughbred sires as the following being represented: Turquoise, Orions Belt, Ocean, Sequin, Hillstone, Gun Cotton, Musketry, Good Eye, Freedom, Somnus, The Artist and Clovelly. The most important feature in the racing was the winning of the principal double by Inspiration, a well-known Auckland pony. Taking into consideration the fact that the racing was confined to ponies and the smallness of the course, the times registered were very fast. About a dozen Bookmakers plied their calling on the course.

The' management of the meetirg was excellent. Practically all the work fell to Mr P. P. Bigwood, the managing steward, and the capable manner in which he carried out his duties impressed a good many with the idea that race meetings could very well be managed with less committees and stewards than is the general custom. The barrier was not used for starting, but Mr F. Davis (starter) got his fields well away with the flag. Taken all through, the management have every reason to be proud of their first effort, and no doubt subsequent meetings will be well patronised both by the public and owners. The next meeting will be held on March 21st.

The results of the racing were as follow :

INITIAL SCURRY HANDICAP, of 20sovs; 4 furlong?-.

Mr L. L. Udy's b m Kitty, aged,

9.7 (Willason) 1 MrT. HoDkin's bg Tit for TaN 4yrs 9.0 (Hopkins) 2 Mr A. Gordon's gr m Silvery v Ocean, syrs, 8.10 (Couchman) 3

Also started—Sweet Nell 9.3, Pretty Polly 8.12, Rosena 8.7, Cornstalk 8.7, Kitty, a Waikanae-owncd pony, got away from the jump, ard led the field ail the distance, winning comfortably with several leneths in hand. Todd, the rider of Rosera, was thrown from his mount just before the turn into the straight, but was uninjured. MAIDEN PONY HANDICAP, of 18sovs; 5 furlongs. Miss Breakell's b g Kauhoe, 2yrs, 8.7 (P. Mason) 1 Mr A.Banks' b m Winnie, aged, 9.0 (Banks) 2 Mr T. Toomey's br m Normandale, syrs, 9.3 (Thompson) 3 Also started—Kautawera 9.3, Artistic 9.0, Lady Vogel 9.0, Dolly 8.7. For half the distance Winnie made the pace, but then Kauhoe put in a run and, maintaining his lead, won by half a length from Winnie. MIRAMAR CUP, of 40sovs; 6 furlongs. Mr E. R. Myer's b m Inspiration, aged, 9.'5 (Todd) 1 Mr A. J. Ox'enham's cli m Lady - Mason, syrs, 9.7 (Elder) 2 Mr L. L. Udy's b\rn Kitty, aged, 9.7 (including 71b penalty) (Willason) 3 Also started—Miretta 10.0, Dan O'Connell 8 10, Napoleon 8.5, Belle Vue 8.0. Inspiration took charge when the field settled down, but was> under pressure in the straight ana won by a head. Time, lmin 24 3-sth sec. The stewards disqualified Miretta, the owner, and the rider for three months.

KILBIRNIE HANDICAP, of 20sovs; 6 furlorgs.

Miss Brcakell's b g Kanhoe, 2yrs, 9.0 (including 71b penalty) (P. Mason) 1 MrT. Hopkin'a bg Tit for Tat, 4vrs, 9.0 (Hopkins) 2 Mr A. Gordon's gr ra Silvery Ocean, 8.10 (Couchman) 3. Only starters. Won by two lengths. Time, lmin 25sec. TRADESMEN'S PURSE, of 15sova; - 5 furlongs, catch weights, minimum weight 9.7.

Mr T. Toomey's br m Normandale, syrs (Thompson) 1 Mr F. Marshall's ch m Insanity, 4yrs (Mason) 2 Mr C. Deuchar's br m Lady Rawson, !3yrs (Hopkins) 3 Also started—Pirie, The Pink 'Un, Queenie, Wonderland, Tui, Novelty, Nellie, Elsiuore. Won by half a lenghths. Time, lmin ISsec. FAREWELL HANDICAP, of 25sovs; 4 furlongs.

Mr E. R. Myer's o m Inspiration, ajred, 10.5 (including 71b penalty), (Todd) 1 .. Mr L. L. Udy's b m Kitty, aged, ,9.13 (including 71b penalty), / (Willason) 2 fe Mr F. C. Liddle's b m Pretty \ Polly, aged, 8.12 3 Also started—Lady Mason, 10.0, Queenie, 9.3, Dan O'Connell 9.3, Weka 9.3. Winnie 9.0, Napoleon 8.12, Rosena 8.7, Belle Vue 8.7. Won comfortably. Time, 57sec.