STEADY PROGRESS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 272, 30 August 1935, Page 2

STEADY PROGRESS

ASHBURTON TROTTING CLUB.

RECORD OF A LONG PERIOD.

IN EXISTENCE FOR 45 YEARS. “This is the forty-fifth anniversary of the foundation of our club, and the thirtieth year in which you have honoured me with your confidence by re-appointing me chairman,” said the president (Mr H. F. JNicoll) at the annual meeting of the Ashburton Trotting Club last evening. There was a good attendance. “The record of the club during that long period has been one of steady progress,” Mr Nicoll Continued, “tor although we have on one or two occasions received a severe set-back financially, yet the generous support we have at ail times received from owners and tire public has enabled us to carry on our policy of offering liberal stakes, and at the same time to catei for the comfort of our patrons byi constantly improving the accommodation on the course, and studying the convenience of all who attend our meetings. Financial Policy. ,“lt lias been the policy of your committee for several years past to endeavour to do no more than balance the budget each financial year. The club has not budgeted to make profits, but has concentrated upon offering an attractive programme, and giving the full amount of our income in stake moneys after the payment of usual expenses. A perusal of our balance-sheet over the last six years discloses the following results: —l93o, loss of £345; 1931, profit of £100; 1932, profit of £485; 1933, loss of £45; 1934, profit of £108; 1935,. profit of £205. This leaves a profit of only £SOB over the six-year period, or if we deduct interest on investments, about £I2OO during that term, the club made a loss of some £7OO on its actual operations. “Some disgruntled person, or persons,” said Mr Nicoll, “have been endeavouring to work up some prejudice against the club because of the success of the Sapling Stakes. It may be stated that the direct financial results of this race have not been profitable, but your committee, recognising the indirect benefits accruing to the club as a result of this race appearing on the winter programme, has persevered annually, until this year, when offering £IOOO stakes for the first time in the history of the race, we made an actual profit. Catering For Owners.

“This result is all to the benefit of owners, as the whole of the profit will be returned in the shape of increased stakes, and owners as a body are sufficiently intelligent to appreciate the conduct of your committee in its endeavour to cater for them.

“At the present time we have upon our annual programme the Sapling Stakes for two-year-olds run in June for '£looo, the Champion Stakes for three-year-olds in December £6OO, and the club has now instituted a new race, called the Futurity Stakes, also for three-year-olds, which will be run for the first time in 1938 for a stake of £llOO.

“That these races materially assist trotting is very apparent from the great interest that is taken throughout the Dominion in them, and also the greater interest taken in breeding, and in the care and attention paid to mares, foals, and yearlings of recent years. “There was a time not so very long ago when many leading trainers were too busy to trouble with green horses, but to-day we have their skill concentrated on discovering and educating promising youngsters, and it is the trainer’s ambition to win a Sapling Stakes, that being the hall-mark of success.

“We have to thank the Ashburton County Racing Club for its willing cooperation in all affairs for our mutual benefit, and subject to its approval it is now proposed to cover in, and extend for some thirty feet, the open stand on the lawn, and also to provide more accommodation in front of the grandstand.. ‘Win and Place’ System Popular.

“The totalisator house may need some reconstructing, if the committees of the two clubs decide to work the ‘Win and Place’ system of investments, which appears to be increasing in popularity, with the accruing benefit to clubs. This matter will demand: the early attention of the committee. “Government taxation upon racing and trotting clubs has occupied much attention of recent years, and while it does not press so heavily upon us as it does upon many of the other clubs, there is no question but that the heavy load being carried has had, and is having, a very depressing effect upon the sport generally. The conference executive, in conjunction with the racing executives, has the business in hand, and will make every effort to have this burden eased.

“This club is managed with great economy. All expenditure is carefully considered by your committee . before being sanctioned, and members will be pleased with the balance-sheet, which, after giving stakes amounting to £5615 for three days’ racing, shows a profit of £205, even though the profit so shown is the result of interest on investments.

“With our up-to-date racecourse and plant, and with the general support and goodwill of owners, trainers, and the public, we can confidently look forward to the future, and our friends may rely that it will be the club’s constant endeavour to merit their patronage,’’ the president concluded. The annual report stated that the club had held three meetings, and was favoured with fine weather. The Boxing Day meeting and file winter meeting both showed a profit, but the Autumn meeting, which was held a week before Easter, resulted in a substantial loss. High-class racing was provided, and the patronage of both the public and of owners was well maintained. The New Zealand Champion Stakes of £6OO, run at the Summer meeting, provided a keen contest, the winner, “Graham Direct,” proving himself a high-class three-year-old. The New Zealand Sapling Stakes again created tremendous interest, and a wonderful race resulted. The stake was increased to £IOOO, and a record field of horses faced the starter. The commit-

tee pursued its policy of endeavouring to attract the best class of horses to its meetings, and the substantial sum of £5615 was paid in stakes, as against £5490 last year. The Government received £3934 2s 5d in taxes. The year’s operations resulted in a' profit of £205 16s 2d, which must he considered very satisfactory. Several improvements were carried out at the racecourse during the year, in conjunction with the Ashburton County Racing Club, and the club had at present under consideration a proposal to extend and roof the open stand on the law'll. This would provide additional accommodation and shelter to patrons in the event of unfavourable weartlier. The club had suffered the loss of one of its members, Mr W. R. Tucker. The Financial Statement. The balance-sheet disclosed a credit of £785 16s 3d, compared with one of £l2B Ss 5d last year. Principal receipts were:—Members’ subscriptions £203, nominations, acceptances and forfeits £2617, totalisator proceeds £4707 5s 6d, admission fees £IOO4 15s sd, racecards £335 5s lOd, royalties £195, investments matured £9OO, Government rebate £250, interest £176 6s Id. On the expenditure side, the chief items were Stakes £5615, Government taxes £3934 2s 5d (of which £2095 18s came from owners and dividends), salaries and wages £567 9s 6d, race meeting expenses £237 2s 2d, printing, etc., £203 11s 4d, New Zealand bonds £535 13s 6d. Assets were shown to exceed liabilities by £5498 4s.

On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr W. Bryant, the report and balance-sheet were adopted. ' i

The election of officers resulted as follow:—President, Mr H. F. Nicoll; vice-presidents, Messrs F. B. Robiliiard and W. Bryant; treasurer, Mr F. W. Seldon; committee, Messrs R. G. Shearman, E. M. Gabites, J. Moore, and H. E. Parsons; stewards, Messrs A. A. McDonald, R. G. Shearman, J. Smith, S 3. Madden, H. Morris, A. J. Nicoll, J. T. Thomas, E. M. Gabites, E. F. Nicoll, J. Moore, E. B. Newton and A. J. Millichamp. Mr A. Bushell . was re-appointed auditor.

Mr G- D. H. Hefford said that Ashburton was the home of trotting, but the club’s membership was not what it should he. He thought that there should be a membership of at least 400 instead of about 200 as at present, and he would suggest as two methods of increasing the number of members the issuing of small badges to members and the provision of a portion of the grandstand for the exclusive use of members. New Stand Required. The chairman said he was sure the committee would be pleased to consider any suggestions put forward by members. As far as stand accommodation was concerned, the stand could! not be extended, and a new stand would be required before members could be granted this concession. Until membership of the club granted special concessions, membership badges were hardly required. Nevertheless, botn were matters which would have to receive attention in, the near future. Mr J. McQuilkin asked why the result of the draw for positions of horses at the barrier was withdrawn from the race books.

The chairman replied that this action was taken at the request of the Trotting Conference. • Mr W. T. Lowe stated that the track was too long, and recommended the reduction of the length to one mile.

Mr Robilliard pointed out that when a shorter track was proposed some time ago the difficulty of crossing into the straight was found hard to overcome.

Mr J. Moore supported the view that the track was too long, and suggested the cutting off of about three furlongs at the north-western corner. Mr Thomas explained that the nature of the soil would necessitate a tremendous amount of work if a new track was to be formed; About iU,OOO loads of soil would be required to shorten the track, and this would be very hard to obtain. Shingle and light soil at the course made conditions very difficult for the formation of a- new track. The committee'would be very pleased to consider any practical suggestions from members after they had inspected the course and made themselves acquainted with the conditions. A high tribute to the work of the president was paid by Mr J. T. Thomas, who moved ft vote of thanks to him.

Seconding this, Mr F. B. Robilliard endorsed Mr Thomas’s remarks, and reminded the meeting of the prominent place occupied by Mr Nicoll in trotting in the Dominion, and stressed the capable manner in which he conducted the business at the trotting conferences.

Replying, Mr Nicoll said, among other things, that the Sapling Stakes introduced by the club had benefited trotting throughout New Zealand. Before it was included in the club’s programmes two-year-old horses were neglected. The events so far held had attracted attention from as far afield as Australia, and aroused great interest in youngsters. Votes of thanks were accorded tlie officers and staff of the club and the newspapers. Meeting of Committee. At a subsequent meeting of the committee, one new member was elected. The following appointments were made: —Programme committee, Messrs H. F. Nicoll, F. B. Robilliard, W. Bryant, F. W. Seldon, and R. G. Shearman ; ground committee, Messrs J. T. Thomas, A'. J. Millichamp, F. BRobilliard, and J. Moore; catering committee, Messrs W. Bryant and R. G. Shearman; gates committee, Messrs F. W. Seldon and A. J. Nicoll; starter, Mr A. J. Hastings; judge, Mr A. Dickson; honorary assistant judge, Mr €. Hassell; birdcage steward, Mr T. E. Tarbotton; assistant birdcage steward, Mr J. T. Thomas; clerk of course, Mr P. L. Donald; clerk of scales, Mr A. O. Pilbrow; honorary time-keepers, Messrs F. B. Robilliard, R. G. Shearman, and A. J A Millichamp ; honorary surgeons, Doctors G. I. Miller, N. E. H. Fulton, W. K. Ryburn, A. J. Mason, J. R.. Wells, and H. S. Billcliff; honorary veterinary surgeon, Mr H. E. Martin. The programme for the New Zealand Champion Stakes for three-year-olds to bo run at the club’s Boxing Day meeting in 1936 was drawivqip. The stake was increased from £6OO to £650 and it was decided to make no increase in either forfeits or payments.