CHANGE SOUGHT BY WESTPORT

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31384, 1 June 1967, Page 4

CHANGE SOUGHT BY WESTPORT

The Westport Jockey Club has interesting figures to back its claim that it should replace Greymouth as the metropolitan club of the racing district covering the West Coast of the South Island.

A remit from Westport seeking status as the metropolitan club of the district will be considered at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Racing Conference next month. The whole basis of the

metropolitan club system is to ensure that the major club in the district, which has larger responsibilities to fulfill, is not out-voted on important issues by small clubs. Some racing administrators feel that the system is outmoded, and some think that a different system should be adopted, at least in the West Coast area.

Under the present system the Greymouth Jockey Club provides as many delegates to the district committee as the other four clubs combined.

In addition, by virtue of its right to appoint the chairman, Greymouth can exercise effective voting control of the district committee.

Totalisator figures for recent years are quoted by the Westport club in its claim to be the major club of the area.

Turn-over at Westport had risen from a total on and offcourse of £166,099 10s in 1963 to £268,673 this year. Greymouth’s figures had dropped from £128,818 in 1963 to £108,186. Total turn-over on and offcourse for the two clubs for the last five years was: Westport, £1,028,820. Greymouth, £539,673. In the last five years Westport had offered £44,092 in stakes, Greymouth £23,179. Westport stakes this season were £12,805; Greymouth’s £4138.

Westport will probably support its claim through having run an extra two-day meeting in two of the last four seasons to take up dates surrendered by Greymouth. In one of the other years Greymouth had let its permit lapse.