Club concerned about rising costs

Press, 2 August 1985, Page 12

Club concerned about rising costs

Although the Banks Peninsula Trotting Club showed a profit of $12,087, against one of $18,588 for the previous 12 months, the committee is concerned about the substantial increase in some expenses. This information is contained in the report of the retiring president, Mr Ross Stanbury, to be presented to the annual meeting of the club on Thursday, August 15. The Jetbet system, introduced at the club’s spring meeting last year, was efficient, but it was expensive. Every effort was made to estimate the number of terminals to be used, but totalisator costs had risen by $7645. Expenditure on the racecourse had been kept to a minimum, says the report, but the club’s share of costs had risen by $5200 to $20,437. The introduction of a race

for fast-class pacers to the spring meeting had not been without official opposition and also from another club, but support from owners and trainers confirmed the need for such an event at that time of the season. Stakes rose by $7OOO to $77,900, due to support given by sponsors and additional subsidies, and payments to the slower classes matched those of metropolitan clubs, says the report. Mr George Mugford is to be elected a life member of the club. “During his term as president, Mr Mugford made a big impact on the sport,” says the report. Reference is made to the death of Mr Jim Geddes, a foundation member of the club in 1950. He became a steward in 1958 and a member of the committee in 1970, making an invaluable contribution to the club.

The club spent more than $lO,OOO promoting its meetings last season, including following up members of the public who had shown interest in the film and booklet, “Harnessing a Dream,” produced by the Trotting Conference. “Although we support the overall concept of the promotional and marketing work of the conference, the benefits to our club last season were minimal,” says the report.

Attendances at the club’s two meetings rose by some 2509 to 11,698, while oncourse turnover was $692,597, against $596,404. Off-course betting rose to $1,174,746, against $880,406. The combined total of $1,867,343 was by far the greatest ever by the club, which should be reflected in the club’s payout from the T.A.B. in November. Last year this amounted to $49,706, against $48,819.