ASHBURTON COUNTY RACING CLUB.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7829, 23 June 1909, Page 4

ASHBURTON COUNTY RACING CLUB.

The annual meeting of the Ashburton County Racing Club was held yesterday afternoon, when there was a food attendance of members and Mr . E. Upton occupied the chair. The annual report, which was taken as read, was presented as follows: Gentlemen, —In submitting to you its-' annual re-port of the operations of the club during the past season, your committee have much pleasure m congratulating the members on the steady progress which the club continues to enjoy. Notwithstanding the fact that the stakes during the past season have been increased to the extent of £460, and a sum of £270 expended m permanent improvements, the year's work has been wound up with a substantial cash balance. There are still some desirable improvements to be made, but whether it is advisable to incur any heavy expenses just now is a matter for 'the incoming committee to decide. The matters for consideration are: A new judge's box, tea kiosk, etc., outside stand and horse ring. Race Meetings.—The Spring Meeting, held m September last, was to a considerable extent marred by the wet weather which was experienced both days; otherwise it would undoubtedly have been our duty to record the most successful spring meeting held during the club's existence. The nominations and acceptances were unusually large, and notwithstanding the drawback referred to. the meeting resulted m a profit of about £250. The highest stakes yet given by this club were given at the late Autumn Meeting held m May, and although the weather during the meeting was most enjoyable, the bad weather immediately preceding it, and the heavy going, prevented the meeting from being the financial success it otherwise would have been. However a profit of £180 was made, and although the fields m some cases were small, the quality of the sport was most interesting and gratifying. Bookmakers. —It is a question whether m the interests of the sport this matter should not receive the attention of the N.Z. Racing Conference,! and be controlled by that body more directly. The stewards of this club, so far, have experienced no trouble whatever from the bookmakers, and their behaviour has been all that can be de- i sired; but from reports received from! other clubs, it appears as though undesirable persons had been licensed. During the season the Ashburton Trotting Club held two meetings on the course, at a rental fixed by the committee, and the club is now engaged m laying down a trotting course, practically distinct from the gallop track, which will undoubtedly be more beneficial to both clubs. We may also here mention that the matter of including trotting events m our future programme should be > discussed at the meeting and an opinion obtained from the members. Annual Election. —As the required j number has been nominated for the 1 committee, the following gentlemen | will be declared elected: Messrs H. D. j Acland, T. F. Gibson, J. C. N. Grigg, Jas. Hampton, C. W. Nicoll, H. F. Nicoll and T. E.- Upton. A ballot will be taken at the annual meeting, to be held on Tuesday, June 22nd, at 3 p.m., for election of 11 out of the 16 candidates nominated for stewards. The chairman, m moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, congratulated the members on the success of the club for the past year. The financial part he would leave to their treasurer, but he would like to refer to a few of the most important improvements effected by the committee during the last year, and also to sugfested improvements for the future. s regards improvements lately completed, he mentioned the erection of commodious .conveniences m the saddling paddock and also for the outside public. Besides this, a number of large trees had been removed from the plantation adjoining the saddling paddock, which gaye £hem further extension of the saddling' paddosk, The horse boxes were then removed, and this alteration had been greatly appreciated not only by both owners and trainers, but by the public generally. Another minor alteration was the removal of the entrance to the jockeys' Toom from its original position outside io' the present entrance through the bird cage,' which had had the desired effect of making the' room mor« private for those for whojn it was intended. Members "might 'probably remember that a portion of the plantation on the north-east side of the racecourse was destroyed by fire. The burnt trees had been removed and replaced by live trees, the majority of which were doing well, and the few that had failed were being renewed by the contractor. The committee contemplated m the near future several very desirable and much-needed improvements; namely, a horse "ring to keep competing horses within proper pounds and off •the lawn; an up-to-date judged box, the present on.c being now antiquated, and a tea kiosk, m lieu of the marquee which had been usually erected at the former feetings, The outside stand would require enlarging and repairing. A word of thanks was due to the stewards and committee for their hearty co-operation. The very successful manner m which the race meetings were conducted and managed by by the stewards, and were got through without §Jjy trouble, was no doubt due to • the attention and energy they put into their duties. The committee's work lay m the perhaps more important detail work m the general management, and the way its work was done the report and balance sheet amply showed. Then he had to thank the treasurer who looked after their finances and kept them from spending too much; the secretary (Mr Fooks) who gives a great deal of his time.and energy, all very quietly without a hitch; the handicappers, better than whom, to h?s mind, could not be found m the Southern Hemjsphere. • The rest of the officials he had to thank fpr the way they all worked and carried out their duties. Jn conclusion, he hoped they would have even a better year for 1909-1910 than the last 1908-1909. (Applause), Mr J. Davison, who seconded the motion, traversed the history of the club for the last 10 or 12 years, showing that remarkable progress had been made, the revenue or the club having doubled. Jn 1899 the stakes paid were '£969, Ik l$W $$y had reached £1050, and m 1909"£1901. Thp nomination | and acceptance fe.es had' risen faofn £281 m 1897 to £687 last year; During the s.fljne period the totalisator investments had increased from £681 to £1839, and the receipts from race books from £83 to £117. ' Mr'D # ayiisbn urged the necessity for certain improvements mentioned m the report, some of which he said should be carried out before the next meeting. The report and balance sheet were adopted. Mr H. F. Nicoll moved that it be a recommendation to the incoming committee that a trotting race be included m the programme for eacjfi day of next year's meetings. It was stai'ed by the moved that more interest was taken m trots than m gallops and when trots were eliminated from the programmes at Timaru and Christchurch last year there was a notice-j able falling-off m the atjtenaan.ee. Ti)fiir experience had taught them that' the i trotting eyents were the most pay-' able and most successful races on thp programme. Mr W, B, Denshire seconded the motion. ; Mr Hugo Friedlander asked the president of the Trotting Club if he would be prepared to include gallops m irio Trotting Club's programme. Mr Nicoll said he would be only too pleased to do so if the rules did not forbid it. The motion was carried .unanimously. Votes of thanks were passed to the timekeepers, doctors, veterinary surgeons and also the clerk of the course. Mr It. Friedlandei' moved that it be a recommendation to the incoming committee that it takes into serious consideration the appointment of a new starter. Mr J. J. Stephens seconded, Mr Hugo Friedlander moved as »m amendment that the committee be recommended to take into consideration, when, appointing a sfcarjtcp, th& starting at last year's meetings. Mr Houston seconded the amendment, ■which was carried. The following gentlemen were elected stewards: Messrs J. Davison, Hugo Friedlander, J. R. Hart, E. Gates, J. Hftmpton, W.. B, Denshire, J. G. N.

Grigg, T. P. Gibson, H. Nicoll and M. Stitt. A vote of thanks to the scrutineers brought the business to a close. A committee meeting was held immediately following, when Mr T. E. Upton was re-elected chairman. :