£500 Guarantee For Champions

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 177, 29 July 1938, Page 12

£500 Guarantee For Champions

INDEMNITY AGAINST LOSS. Inter-Dominion Trotting Tests —Local Sportsman's Offer.

"Four Hundred" Club.

Drive For Members.

Xo effort is being spared by the committee of the Auckland Trotting Club in its endeavour to have the InterDominion Championships for 1940 held in Auckland, and their enthusiasm is reflected in the action of at least one member of the club, who is evidently a firm believer in the principle, "Actions speak louder than words." He has offered to guarantee the club against loss to the extent of £500 if the Championships two years hence are held in j Auckland. I

This example of generous sportsmanship in the truest sense of the term was revealed, by Mr. E. G. Bridgens. president of the club, at the annual meeting on Wednesday last. Mr. Bridgens would no doubt have taken great pleasure in disclosing the name of the man who has intimated his willingness to give this substantial indemnity against

loss, but he said that he ■was unable to do so—presumably, because the guarantor prefers anoniniity.

It appears now by no means improbable that the Championships will be held here; and if they are it will be a. great thing for light-harness racing It is true that trotting is very popular with the public—the attendances at meetings prove that, and the profit of over £1100 which was made last year by the club emphasises the point —but nothing is more calculated to give the sport 0 an impetus than contests between the best horses in the Southern Hemisphere.

Although the membership of the club has increased during the last few vearg, there is to be a drive to raise the'total to 400. and. having that in mind, the committee is contemplating providing more accommodation on the stand. Nothing definite was promised at the annual meeting, but Mr. Bridgens intimated to the goodly concourse 5 of members that the matter had been gone into with a view to the desired end.

"I think yon may rest assured," he said, "that improvements will be made, but a lot depend* on the results of the first two or three meetings in the new season."