RACING REDUCTION

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3114, 19 June 1917, Page 6

RACING REDUCTION

EIGHT DAYS IN WELLINGTON

DISTRICT *

COMMITTEES DECISION

COURSES CLOSED DOWN

The District Committee for the Wellington racing district met yesterday to deal with the request of the Government and the joint Bating and Trotting Conference that suggestions be made for. the reduction of the number of racing days in the Wellington province. The members of the committee, who were all present, are: Messrs'. J.' B. Harcourt, .).. ,W. Abbott, 0. Sj. Watkins, ,1. G. Duncan, and C. l>. Skerrett (all of the Wellington Jiacing Club), J. W. Card- (llasterton), "V\ 7 . E. Bidwill (Wairarapa); C. 1?. Vallanco (Wairarapa), Orinoud Cooper (Wairarapa), and B. Ling- (Otakij. ' ; The reeommeudation o£ the committee was that Wellington Club should lose three days, Otalci one day, Horowhenna. one. day," Wairarapa one day, Masterton one day, and Carterton one day. The instruction 'to the committee was that tho number of. days would have to be ■reduced by'eight, and tho foregoing decision was made as to how the lost, days should be distributed. All the clubs in tho district were represented at the meeting, and evidence was given on behalf, of every club. The recommendation of the committee was unanimous.

Two of the clubs affected by;the reduction—Horowhenna and Carterton—had ■ >nly one day of racing in. every season, w> that, for them reduction means the closing of their courses until the end of tho war. Nothing cau be said yet about the result of the curtailment on the operations of the other clubs. It may be. for instance, that softie of them will not care to tolcWone day meetings, and jnay -wish to alter their programme for the season accordingly. These questions will come hefore the conference when it approves the dates {or the year. In accordance with the scheme as adopted by the joint conference, those elubs which continue to race will be asked to provide sufficient money from - their profits to maintain th'e courses of 'those clubs which are ■closed down. In addition, the committee made this fur--tlier recommendation with the object of keeping alivV the clubs compelled to suspend operations:—"That the clubs which continue to hold meetings should grant tho privileges of honorary membership to all those members of clubs which are closed down, so long as those members continue'to subscribe to their own clubs." THE. REDUCTIONS IN OTAGO. By Telegraph—Press Association. Dunedin, .Tune IS. 'A! meeting of the District Committee was held to-night to consider the reduction in the number of racing days in ■Otago and Southland, and decided on the following reductions:—Otago Hunt Club, . one day; Clifden Racing Club, one day; Cromwell, one day; Dunedin, two days; Gore, ovjs day; Lake Coujfty, two days; North. Otago, one day;' Tapanin. two days; Vincent, one day; Waikouaiti, one day. Beaumont and Lawrence are to amalgamate aiidi race on one day at Beanmonfc .Lake County and Tapauui •Clubs went out voluntarily: ; ASSOCIATION FORMED IN AUCK- ' LAND. : .By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, .Tune 18. 'At a meeting of horse-owners, breeders - and trainers it was resolved to fotm an . association to conserve the interests of those concerned in the 'breeding and training of horses. A deputation was ap-. ■pointed to -wait on the local clnbs and "plafe before them the views of the meet4ii2 regarding the proposed curtailment .of racing and the allocation of -racing days. ■'.-■■' ;