PROFITS OF TAB.

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30312, 12 December 1963, Page 4

PROFITS OF TAB.

Distribution Criticised “The Pre*s~ Special Service MATAMATA, Dec. 11. The small clubs providing training facilities were suffering “economic strangulation,” according to a statement by ’<r J. Fouhy, president of the New Zealand Owners’ and Trainers’ Association. Mr Fouhy said that more than two years ago the annual meeting of the full New Zealand Racing Conference agreed to help these clubs, but no permanent action had been taken. “It is the opinion of the association that the introduction of the Victorian method of distributing T.A.B. profits would save these clubs and do a lot for racing,” said Mr Fouhy. Between 1953 and 1963 the T.AJB. had distributed just over 3 per cent of its turnover as profit. In Victoria each club got its allocation purely on T.A.B. figures. In New Zealand the on-course turnover was taken into account Mr Fouhy said this hit hardest the clubs which trained a lot of horses but which were unable to provide big stakes to attract their own best gallopers. Research showed Matamata and Woodville were the biggest country centres. Since the introduction of the T.A.B U the Woodville Club had received £25,033 less than its off-course turnover actually earned and Matamata £24,645. This represented a loss of more than £2200 a year to these clubs. Others, such as Cambridge and Te Awamutu. where large numbers of horses were trained, had also fared badly. The Racing Conference had informed his association that it was aware of the effects of the present system of distribution, but considered it was impossible to alter it as the chairmanship of the *” AB. alternated between trotting and galloping each year.

“The present system benefits city clubs holding night trotting at the expense of country galloping clubs,” be said.

If the country clubs providing training facilities continued to lose money the whole racing industry would eventually suffer, especially trainers and those dependent on the sport for livelihood.