Some penalised, others to benefit from scheme

Press, 12 July 1979, Page 20

Some penalised, others to benefit from scheme

By

W. R. CARSTON

The New Zealand Racing Authority's new stakes subsidy scheme, which will become operative from the start of next season, will penalise some clubs while others “I benefit. Members of the New Brighton Trotting Club were fold this last evening by the retiring president (Mr B. B. Woodsjwhen he presented his report at the annual meeting.

Mr Woods said that the initial stake subsidy scheme I had a very heavy bias toI wards those clubs which ■ were paying low stakes for [C to C 3 class races and the -New Bright. Club, the first ■to put on a $lOOO stake for ia maiden race in New Zealand, suffered greatly from sliding-scale method used. “Because of the benefits to trotting as a whole we put up with that although youi committee felt that money for the stakes subsidy scheme generated by the club should be returned tn it on a more equitable basis,” he said. Mr Woods said that over the ears the scheme had been amended but it appeared that in the 1979-80 one, which he now had in his possession, some clubs were again to suffer.

“It was originally suggested that a flat subsidy was to be paid to all clubs,” he said. “In actual fact the 1979-80 stakes subsidy scheme allows a subsidy for

races CO to C 3 except tor a clause which reduces it to 5350 for six trotting clubs in New Zealand, one of which is the New Brighton Trotting Club.” Mr Woods said that it seemed wrong that the New Brighton club, which was among the top six in New Zealand, should be penalised so that clubs of the stature of Wellington and Forbury Park benefit. Mr Woods went on to discuss the method of subsidy to be applied to the five principal classics, one of which he assumed wuld be the New Zealand Oaks.

He said that in the past th club had received $5OOO by way of stakes subsidy for the New Zealand Oaks. In future 50 per cent of the total contribution made by a club to such a race will be paid by way of stakes subsidy. “In the financial year under review the club paid $BOOO towards the total stake of $13,000,” said Mr Woods. “If this amount paid by the club is not increased to $lO,OOO for the next New Zealand Oa’:s we will lose $lOOO in subsidy for this particular race, which is one of two premier events on the calendar for three-year-olds.” Mr Woods said that filles were the life blood of the breeding industry and should! be given the opportunity of establishing thqir names in races such as the Oaks be-'

fore being retired to the matrons’ paddock. “It is only by the promotion of such races that our breeding industry will continue to survive and prosper,” he Said. Mr Woods said that he found it rather difiicult to reconcile tl.j subsidy given to the New Zealand Derby (galloping) of $50,000 when the club’s contribution was I only $50,000. “No doubt it will work out one day but in the meantime, in an attempt to raise the status of some clubs, I am afraid the danger is that ciubs which have always tried to maintain and improve stakes are going to Imiss out badly,” he said.

I Mr Woods said that this could be the right time to offer a suggestion to the i 1 Racing Authority that might 'assist in bringing more pubi' lie interest in the industry as well as creating an opportunity for clubs to increase on-course turnovers which, in turn, would give the authority more funds. His suggestion was that if the authority were to subsidise a series of races in trotting, for example the New Zealand Cup, the Auckland Cup, the Derby and other races such as the Pan Am Mile, and promoted them into the six-figure stakes bracket, it was highly likely that the clubs concerned would agree to a racing circuit and would attract Z ...iralian representation.