RACING STATISTICS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18095, 10 June 1924, Page 8

RACING STATISTICS.

TO THE EDITOR OF "THE P.RESS." Sir, —The statement by the Council of Christian Churches, appearing in this morning's issue, commences with an assertion so entirely contraiy to truth that I feel bound to make a correction without delay. It is obvious that Archbishop Julius has been grossly misinformed before lending bis signature to such a notorious mis-statement, viz., that there are 453 more races per year in New Zealand than in Great Britain. The facts are as follows: In Britain, excluding Ireland and 'Wales, there are 538 race days under Jockey Club and National Hunt Club rules. There are multitudinous trotting and pony racing meetings of which we have no statistics, but which probably more than equal 'the race days under the Jockey Club and Hunt Club rules. There are also numerous point-to-point Steeplechase Meetings run by all the Hunt Clubs throughout Britain, so tliat the total number of race days must total well over 1200 per annum and may well be 1000 days or more, and assessing the number of ltaoes per diem at six, we find that we may safely calculate the number of rates in Britain, excluding Ireland and Wales, at anything from seven to nine thousand per annum. When ministers of the Churches find it necessary to descend to such foolisli misstatements of fact in order to bolster up a case against the National "Sport, is it to be wondered at that we hnd such a small proportion of men amongst their congregations?— Yours, H. F. NIOOLL. Ashburton, June 9tli.