Nelson losing heavily

Press, 29 March 1982, Page 24

Nelson losing heavily

Nelson The Nelson Jockey Club has lost $65,000 in the last seven years, even though in some of those years betting figures on its annual race meeting have been increasing by 20 and 25 per cent. Mr Henry Houston, Who is serving his first year of his term as president of the club, reminded patrons at Richmond Park on Nelson Cup Day on Saturday that they had just seen a race run for the first time 100 years ago. He said he felt it was his duty to let the people know about the club's problems — problems that would have to be overcome if the club hoped to stage “even another two or three Nelson Cups." Mr Houston told “The Press” that the club committees had been active in their efforts to improve the club's finances by way of running raffles and with other fundraising ventures, but they had not been able to correct a decline in the situation even at times of increasing turnovers. Nelson Cup Day on Saturday was warm and sunny, and there was a good roll-up of locals. With assistance from a good sprinkling of visitors, many of them North Islanders, course patrons bet $159,585 on nine races, an incease of $20,382 on the corresponding day last year, when the club put on 10 races. Such an increase was against recent trends in several New Zealand districts and officials of the club felt it would give them fresh heart in their efforts to promote galloping in an area which suffers these days because of its position of isolation from the major training centres.