Westland fails in battle over stake subsidies

Press, 23 January 1988, Page 35

Westland fails in battle over stake subsidies

Special correspondent

Greymouth

The Westland Racing Club has failed to gain the support of the West Coast District Committee for it’s battle with the New Zealand Racing Authority over lower stake subsidy payments to clubs racing on ungraded tracks as compared to those on graded tracks.

The president of the Westland Racing Club, Mr Jim Keenan, said yesterday that he asked the West Coast District Committee to write to the N.Z.R.A. seeking restoration of a balance between stake subsidy payments made to clubs such as ■ his own, and those racing on graded tracks. His resolution was defeated by one vote.

has arisen from a letter by the authority inviting submissions on stakes subsidy policy and its proposal to increase the payments for races up to class 3 by $7OO for races on graded courses and $5OO for ungraded courses. This latest suggestion, and one which seems likely to be passed for the 1988-89 season, would

ing for is really infinitesimal, in relation to the total stake subsidy payments made each year,” he said.

Just 380 races eligible for basic stake subsidy are conducted on ungraded courses each

season, and the affected clubs are asking for a further $190,000 to be paid out of a pool which presently pays over S2.BM per year.

Mr Keenan was disappointed that he did not have the support of all five West Coast galloping clubs. Votes in his favour came from the two other ungraded clubs, Reefton and Kumara. Votes against his resolution were passed by representatives of the only two clubs racing on graded tracks on the Coast, Westport and Greymouth. The present episode in the stakes subsidy saga

widen the gap between the respective subsidies to $BOO per race. “I put it to the district committee that a continuation of this practice would eventually see clubs racing on ungraded tracks become uncompetitive and they would have to wind up,” Mr Keenan said. “Surely you wouldn’t want to see that. “Our battle at present is over the stake subsidy policy. What we are ask-

“We are not asking for an arm and a leg, just a fair go,” Mr Keenan said.

The three clubs involved on the West Coast, the Westland Racing Club, Kumara Racing Club and Reefton Jockey Club, intend to make submissions to the New Zealand Racing Authority on their own behalf and regular meetings are being held with clubs in similar situations throughout New Zealand.