Gloomy Future For Racing In South

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32386, 27 August 1970, Page 4

Gloomy Future For Racing In South

"It Is difficult to see any significant increase In prosperity for racing in the South Island unless there Is a substantial increase in public Interest in the sport resulting in Increased attendances at race meetings," the chairman of the Ashburton County Racing Club (Mr W. R. Lemon) said in his address to members at the club's annual meeting last evening.

It would not seem unreasonable to expect the off-course better to contribute a little more to racing revenue for the upkeep of on-course facilities, which were necessary to enable the functioning of race meetings, Mr Lemon said in his address.

The better who patronised the racecourse made his contribution in the way of admission fees, and the purchasing of race-cards but costs to owners continued to rise and the latest was the increase in the scale of jockey's fees, he said.

The results of the club’s four days racing were below expectations, with the autumn meeting being most disappointing. This was mainly because the Oamaru Jockey Club moved its Anniversary Day meeting forward by one week and raced one day before his own club’s meeting in March, he said. The operations by the club for the year resulted in a loss of $1644.64, after $1771.76 had been provided for depreciation. Had it not been for an increased pay-out from the Totalisator Agency Board the club's loss would have been considerably greater, Mr Lemon said.

A training establishment on land leased adjacent to the Ashburton racecourse had been completed. The increase In the number of horses trained on the club's course should revive local interest in galloping, he said.

The establishment cost more than $20,000 and substantially increased the club's assets.

The totalisator turnover oncourse was $175,683, compared with $205,517 for last year and the off-course turnover was $570,975, as against $683,767. Officers Elected.—President W. R. Lemon: vice-president, C. R. G. Woodham; treasurer, A. J. Mason: secretary, J. B. Nicol!; committee, Messrs C. R G. Woodham. A. L. Mclntosh, C. A. B. Pilbrow, B. M. Murdoch, J. D. Roberts, D. P. O’Sullivan, M. W. G. Archdale; stewards, Messrs W. R. Lemon, C. R. G. Woodham, A. J. Mason, G. B. Trolove, G. J. P. McQuilkin, B. F. Mears, D. G. Gerard. J. D. Roberts, B. M. Murdoch, A. L. Mclntosh, C. A. B. Pilbrow. D. P. O’Sullivan, B. W. Smallbone, M. W. G. Archdale.