Admittance fee rise angers racegoers

Press, 9 August 1982, Page 1

Admittance fee rise angers racegoers

By

J. J. BOYLE

The Canterbury Jockey Club had angry customers at its gates at Riccarton on Saturday. “A price hike of 50 per cent in the present financial climate is not on — it even puts Muldoon in novice class,” said one complainant, referring to the club’s late decision to increase the admittance charge from $2 to $3.

The club secured an exemption. from the Trade and Industry Department of the price-freeze regulations on Friday afternoon, but an announcement of the change, published on Saturday morning, came as news to. many when they queued at the turnstiles.

Other subjects for complaints were understaffing of totalisator windows, and long

delays, in some cases caused by the failure of the club to provide quinella betting in $5 units.

A 10-race programme stuttered along, major races started late, and an Australian visitor marvelled at the stoicism of those prepared to endure a marathon starting at 11 a.m. and scheduled to finish at 4.50 p.m. “No bookies, no bands — how do they fill in the time?” the visitor asked. "It’s a survival course if I ever saw one.”

Those prepared to survive the programme, or part of it, numbered about 8500. The attendance on a wet Grand National day last year was 6270. 1

On-course bets totalled $594,432, an increase of $110,628.

Grand National, page 32