WELLINGTON RACING CLUB.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9522, 15 September 1896, Page 6

WELLINGTON RACING CLUB.

(PRKSS ASSOCIATION* TELEGRAM.) |WELLINGTON, September 14. At the annual meeting of the Wellington Radng Club to-night Mr Macarthy, the Chairman, referred "to the highly successful season and sound financial position of the Club, and, after a brief discussion, the report and balance-sheet, already telegraphed, AA*ere adopted. Messrs T. G. .Macarthy and E. Pearce Avere re-elected Vice-Presidents, Mr G. H. Scales Avas reelected Judge, Mr Jno. Wilkins re-elected Clerk of Scales, Mr N. Grace re-elected Time-keeper, Mr b. Franklyn re-elected Treasurer. The Stewards elected were Messrs James Ames, W. E. Bidwell, J. B. Harcourt, J. H. Harbroe, C. P. Skerrett, J. Saunders (all re-elected) and .T. Maginnity. A proposal to reduce the entrance fee and annual subscription Avas rejected almost unanimously, it l>eing clearly shoAvn that the fees here Avere less than those charged by any other Metropolitan Club in New Zealand. A motion that two steAvards (the loAvest on the list at the ballot at the annual meeting) retire each year, and be ineligible for re-elec-tion for twelve months, Avas carried. Mr James Ames moved—" That the recommendation to the Racing Conference that the Wellington Club be allowed to amend the totalisator regulations to the effect that totalisator investments be p' id on the first and second horses in a proportion to be determined by the Club." Quoting from the figures at the recent Avinter meeting, ho said if the totalisator money Avas d-A'ided and dividends paid on the first and second it would shoA. to the adA-antage of backers, and at the same time " A\*alking totes " Avould have to invest more iv the machine, while there Avould be an incentiA-e to OAvners to run their horses for a place, where at present the}* would pull out when they saw they could not get first. A Committee aa .is appointed to inspect and report on any site 3 which may be considered suitable for a racecourse more convenient to the city.

The Spring (Exhibition) programme was agreed to, to-night, by the (Stewards, the amount of prize money being £1520, against £965. The chief events are the Exhibition Handicap of 300 soys, one mile and a quarter, the Pearce Handicap of 200 soys, vine furlongs, with other equally AA*ell prized eA-ents. The date 3 are November 21st aud 25th.

Nominations for the Hawke's Bay Spring meeting close to-day.

Nominations for the Wanganui Spring meeting close to-day.

The Australian Jockey Club's meeting will be continued at RandAvick to-day, the chief handicap at the gathering, the Metropolitan, being one of the items on the card.