MASTERTON-OPAKI JOCKEY CLUB.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1806, 6 October 1884, Page 2

MASTERTON-OPAKI JOCKEY CLUB.

A wkll attended meeting of the above Club was held on Saturday evening last at the Club Hotel, Mr W. Lowes, the President being in the chair. Correspondence was read from the Lower Valley Jockey Club, suggesting a conference, and offering to send a deputation to Masterton re racing clays. Prom J, 0, Evitt stating terms on which he would handicap the Club's meeting. Mr R. P. Welch objected to the idea of rescinding the resolution passed at a previous meeting fixing the days for racing. To secuio good races they must hold them on a holiday, It was resolved to accept the offer of Mr Evitt to handicap the coming mooting. The President reported that Mr Connal had promised to arrange gates to send to the new course, and Mr Bremner was willing to lay off the course as soon as the press of work, now in his hands was despatched. The Road Board would be applied to for permission to make use of his services. Mr Fitton proposed a resolution altering the rule defining hack races, to the effect that a hack be one that was in actual use as a hack, and bad never run in other than hack races, Mr Hill thought this- rule would benefit outsiders who might bring in unknown horses which would carry off all the hack races.

Mr K, R. Welch supported the proposed alterations. Mr W, Rapp thought it would be would be better to do without hack races altogether. Mr Hill proposed that Mr Fitton's proposal should be applied to two hack races and that the others should be run under the old rule, This was agreed to. On the motion of tho President the 15th November was fixed for nominations and the 13th December for entries and acceptances. A discussion then took place as to to the expediency of giving second money in the Champagne and Durby Stakes of 1885 and 1886.

It was decided that the nominations and acceptances for the Champagne Stakes amount to £2 and for the Derby ■Stakes to £3.

Six new members were then added to the roll.

.. Messrs Martin Tully and Evans waited on the meeting'as a deputation from the Lower Valley Jockey Olub.'

The President stated that the MastertofrOpaki Jockey Club had in the past been unfortunate in holding their

meetings on days which were not holidays and they thought that by stealing the Lower Vvlley days they would do as little harm as possible. Mr Martin said the Lower Valley Jockey Club appealed to their sense of fairness to reconsider their decision.

The President said they felt that by taking Boxing Day they would not do the. Lower Valley Club any serious injury.

Mr C Tully said his club had raced on Boxing Day for ten years, and during that period bad both' received a good deal of support from Mastertpn, and returned it by sending their horses up here. [ ■',

Mr Fitton said that unless the Masterton Club fixed their meeting on a holiday; they could not get a special train. Their course was more accessible to the train than the Lower Meeting, and they depended : upoifflf support from Wellington,

Mr Martin said their would be a Wellington Meeting at Island Bay on Boxing Day. Mr Fitton: No! Mr C. Tully inquired if another

holiday could not be selected. • Mr Fitton replied that New Year's Day, the only other one at all suitable, was the day of the Featherston races. Mr' Martin considered the Lower Valley meeting of more importance than the featherston gathering which, he understood, might not take place on. New Years' Day.

Mr Hill said the financial position of the Masterton Club was such that they were compelled to take the holiday. Why could not the Lower Valley Club, as a steeplechase meeting, take a steeplechase day. Mr Martin said there was only one tofcalisator in the district, and it cottlcrl not be used by both meetings on the* same day. The' President said it would be very easy to get a second ono. Mr Fitton asked why the Lower Valley club could not take New Years Day. They had no Caledonian meeting in their district,

Mr Martin considered they had established a right to Boxing Dav. Mr Hill said Wellington was no good to the Lower Valley Club but it was to them. Therefore they must have the holiday. . ; ■ Mr Tally said they were under the 'f% impression that their day had been taken by an oversight. Mr Hill said there had been no oversight, Mr 0. Tully said that if the Club adhered to its resolution it became a ease of rivalry. Mr Hill : No 1 Almost any otlie£, day would suit you equally well. ySt ' Mr Tully: If we do away with that day we may just as well do away with the meeting, Mr Martin: It is not fair, to jump our claim, The President: Your claim is a long distance off. Mr Tully: You go on the principle l that might is right. L The President: The interests of the* two Clubs are not identical. Mr Hill: I proposed the day against my own personal interests as a horse owner merely to promote the interests of the Club.

Mr Tully said lie heard that Mr Hill did so because there was not good accommodation for his horses at their meeting. Mr Hill: All nonsense. I have always obtained good accommodation at Mitchell's. Mr Macara: Do not excursion trains run every day during Christmas week ? Mr Fitton: No! .<i Mr Tally: We have horses na^H 1 training for both meetings, -\ Mr Hill: Horses will go to the meeting at which they are best treated, The President suggested taking Boxing Day and New Year's Day j alternate- years. Mr Hill: If we gave way to you this year, would you let as have Boxing Day afterwards? Mr Martin: I don't think so! The President said they hoped in a few years to make their meeting the best in the Valley. Mr Martin: If so you could make your own holidays. After some further discussion the deputation retired. The President said that whatever decision they came to it would not be out of a feeling of hostility to the Lower Valley Club. Mr Kimberley said it would be a great pity to divide tho horses ftom the tields and so spoil both mee&jgft Mr Hill said that the Lower YJhy Club might yet alter their day, The President; How would it bs for s us to try New Year's Day this year # Mr Fitton: It would not suit usT Mr Macara said it was a cruel thing to take the Lower Valley day, Mr Mnir moved—That the alub do not alter the days it had decided upon. This resolution was carried on the voices, and it was resolved that the cliib • express its regret that it was .unable to meet the wishes of the_Low€t-~ Valley deputation, The President, in reporting the decision of the club to the deputation, intimated that the Masterton club would gladly give the Lower Valley meeting all the support possible, but could not alter its decision re days, and hoped the deputation would receive this assurance in a kindly spirit. Mr Martin: Of course we will take it in a kindly spirit, but we dont think that you have treated us fairly, or tjSk you will look back with pleasure toj&r step you have taken in makingjffltr Club by extinguishing another. f^L