RACING Racing “A Business, Not A Hobby”

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32076, 26 August 1969, Page 4

RACING Racing “A Business, Not A Hobby”

“Racing in New Zealand today is a multi-million dollar industry which can only progress the way it should if put into the hands of professional businessmen instead of being run by men who still regard it as a sport and administer it as a hobby,” said Mr O. F. S. Martini, president of the Canterbury-Westland branch of the Racing Owners, Trainers and Breeders’ Association, at the annual meeting last evening.

Mr Martini said this was probably the last annual meeting of the association which would be held under what might be called the “existing conditions” of the industry—conditions which left much to be desired“By the time our next general meeting comes round, it is to be hoped that the Royal Commission has heard all the evidence and has made its recommendations to the Government,” said Mr Martini. “There seems to have been much too long a delay between the time the decision to appoint a commission was made and the time of the aopointmeot” Mr Martini said the Royal Commission was long overdue. Although the Owners, Trainers and Breeders’ Federation had been pressing for it for years it was. perhaps, significant that the Racing Conference bad accepted the commission ot inquiry with anything but enthusiasm. Its almost complete silence on the matter could, perhaps, be construed as opposition. Mr Martini assured members that their federation ■could not be found wanting when the time came to make submissions to the commission. A sub-committee had already been set up to handle the matter. It would comprise Mr J. C. Pollock, presi-

dent of the Federation, the vice-presidents, Sir James Wattle and Mr E. L Healy, and Messrs Martini, L. R. Spring and J. H. Foughy. Mr Martini said representatives of the Jockey’s Association, and Trotting Horsemen’s Association and

the Trotting Owners’, Trainers and Breeders’ Association would join the federation in its submissions. “Each of these organisations was. separately, preparing submissions, but before any of them go before the commission we will have held a number of joint meeting*

i so we can presen t the com- ; mission with a united front,” . said Mr Martini. “This close . co-operation between the four organisations should give us ■ real cause for satisfaction ; and it is to be hoped that ; the result will prove satisfactory to the interests represented. “During the year we saw the machinations of the National Development Conference. Much was made of it by the Government and the news media. It would, they said, lay down the pattern of progress for the decade before us,” said Mr Martini. "The fact that the racing and trotting industries, and the thoroughbred and standardbred breeding industries, were completely Ignored by the conference would have been funny had it not been so serious. “Here, planning for the future, was a conference which took absolutely no cognisance of two multimillion dollar domestic industries, and two rapidly growing and immensely valuable industries earning substantial sums in overseas funds,” said Mr Martini. “This of course, bears out what we have long been suspicious of—that successive governments are only interested in milking racing and trotting (if every cent of taxation they can get from them.” Mr Martini said the system in New Zealand, which allowed racing to be controlled by men who regarded it as a pastime, condemned racing to be always half of what it could be and this was evident in iny comparison between New Zealand racing and Rs counterpart in countries where racing’s control was the business of the Government and, consequently.

the people. Briefly, this is the message we are seeking to get across to the Government through the Royal Commission, said Mr Martini. “There will be other points to be made, of course, but all stem from the core problems of Government indifference and failure to realise that multi-mtition dollar industries must be run by businessmen.” Mr Martini made reference to the Hororata Racing Club and its receiving a $3OOO sub-

sidy from Stairs Travel. If there was ever a perfect example of the success of common-sense centralisation, this is it, he said. Otago Hunt Entries “The Press” Special Serrtce DUNEDIN. Nominations for ths Otago Hunt’s annual meeting at Wingatui on September 6 are:— SEAVIEW HACK AND HUNTERS’ HURDLES, MOO; llm.— A-Gkay, Bank Again, Beau Coup, Bob's Secret. Cassbridge, Cedar Bank, Deep Cove, Derwent View, El Keba, Flying York, Golden Supreme, Julmark, Libia, Melhar, Peter, Sand Dune, Sleeky Fox. Starvato, Syckie. Tblbell, Trovanta.

TRIAL STAKES, 8400; M.— Atomic Flight, Banway, Bella Crete, Bonny Clyde, Braidwood. Bright Vale. Camp Star, Coral Tan. Counter. Cretencia, Daz, Detain, Double Note, Effgee, Golden Maris, Grey's Pride, Hello Count, Indian Lady, Karley Belle, La Bcutique, Lady Clairol, Lady Free. Lime Springs. Last Laugh. Lochinvar. Lynway, Macula, Malmo, Marie Pierce Master Jekyll, Meter Man, Miss Kumal, Oregon, Orlanda, Simon Peter, Star Boa. Star Keeper, Three Star, Tudor Hall, Winburn, unnamed Golovins gelding. HIGHCLIFF IMPROVERS* HANDICAP, 85W; fit.—Beau Bevan, Belling Loe. Blue Stephan, Channel Command, Dark Supreme. Gay River, Herekete. Jlvaros, Kay Belle, Lady Clairol. Lady Venture. Llbln, Miss Mannequin. Pal Paigle, Royal Mount, Trelay, Tuleate. STAGS HUNT CUP, 8899: 29m. Drum CaU, El Keba, Flying Quail, GUlta, Gladaub, Jewel Caso, Kumal, Lazybones, Lonvato, Magic Lantern, Melhar, Our Cassock, Phenomenal, Radiant Light, Red Moss, Seram. Segundo. Sevan Veils, Stiver Paper, Vicalins, White Wine. TALLY HO HANDICAP, MOO; lm.—Anvil, Beladln. Balfie, Beltease. Caeca, Flowing Gold, Governor General, Ibn, Middy, My Era, Submerge, Summer Magic, Sunny Filou. Yipp. DUKE OF GLOUCESTER CUP, $560; 2m.— Abebe. Baal Hanan. Bob’s Secret. Drum Call. Dry Time, Duldul. Flying York, Kumai, ’tosybones, Loyal Cherte, Meditation, Melhar, Obscure. Peter, Bed Ashe, Bodline, Rad Mote. Segundo, Startler, The Budget, Trovanta, VereyUght. White wine. Woodcock, Yehudi. TAIERI HACK HAHDKAP. MM; "(.—Afghan Queen, Beau Bevan. Clarendon Imp. David Porter, El Shub. Golden Century, Gone Astray, Mightyway. Not Guilty; Princess Mellay, Queen’s Birthday, Bed Bard, Resmart, Spanish Fox, Star Turns, Thlboll. Trelay. Wyte4l. G. J. GARTON MEMORIAL HACK HANDICAP, MO9; UL BeUandar, El Shub, Hydel, Julmark. Princes* Mellay, Queen’s Birthday, Resmart, Smiley, Starvato. Willie’s Pride.