WELLINGTON RACING CLUB.

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 74, 25 September 1900, Page 2

WELLINGTON RACING CLUB.

Twenty-one members of the Wellington Racing Club attended the annual meeting ol the club at the Chamber of Commerce last evening. The President (Mr. T. G. Macarthy) occupied the chair. The following officers were elected : — President, Mr. T. , G. Macarthy ; VicePresidents, Hon. iC. J. Johnstop and Mr. J. B. Harcourt ; Judge, Mr. G. H. Scales ; Stewards, Messrs. Jas. Ames, P. E. Baldwin, W. H. S. Moorhouse, E. J. Riddiford, J. Saunders, R. T. TurnbuU, and J. Wilkins, and Dr. P. James ; Hon. \Treasurer, Mr. G. H. Harbroe; Timekeeper, Mr. N. Grace ; . Handicapper (for open events), Mr. IJ. O. Evett ; Handicapper (for hack events), Mr. J. E. Henrys ; Clerk of the Scales, Mr. John Wilkiis ; Starter, Mr. H. Piper; iHon. Surgeon, Dr. J. R.- Purdy ; Representatives of Country Clubs on Metropolitan Committee, Messrs. W, E. Bidwill and N. Grace. In, moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, the Chairman ciaimed .that the actions lof the stewards during tlie year had been beneficial to the club. During the past ten years the club had made wonderful strides. The receipts had quadrupled, and the stakes were now four times larger than they ■were in 1890. He referred to the introduction of classic ) events on the club's programmes, the stakes for -which amounted to £1330, and said they had iv every way proved successful. The expenditure on the course had been very • heavy during the , past ten years, especially last season. The big credit balance at the bank last year had now been ab- i sorbed in this direction, and left the club with aD overdraft of £1700, which' -was guaranteed by the personal security of the stewards. He was satisfied, however, that tho debit balance would soon be wiped off. Ho made eulogistic re--ference to the caretaker (Mr. H. White), Mr. Jas. Lockie (who superintended the erection of the buildings on the course), and also to Mr. James Ames (Chairman of the Course Committee). During the incoming season it was proposed to provide a new grass gallop on the course for the use of trainers, and to pay stakes in full instead of deducting the usual 5 per cent. This meant an increase of £500 for horseowners. The stewards also intended to extend the summer meeting to three days instead of two. (Applause.) Mr. W. Abbott seconded the motion, expressing the opinion that the public had reason to be well satisfied with the mannei in which the club carried on its race meetings. The motion was carried unanimously. Mr. P. E. Baldwin proposed "that it be a recommendation to the incoming stewards to confer with the other Metropolitan Clubs with a view to taking united action in appointing one or more Stipendiary Stewards for the whole of j New Zealand." He made urgent appeal for the adoption of the motion, pointing out the great assistance stipendiary stewards would be to officials of racing clubs in dealing with cases of crooked running. They would be in a better position than ordinary stewards to decide such questions. They would attend the principal meetings and would thus become good judges of form, and also collect evidence as lo the running of horses. They would also be able to give expert evidence on foul riding — a most pernicious habit which was practised at several Ilutt meetings lnst year. Of course they would have to be men possessed of means, men of honesty, great caution, and of great determination, and ho suggested that their salaries be provided by a tax of half per cent, on the totalisatos receipts throughout the colony. This would bring in £2500 a year. The system was in vogue in Victoria, and also had the support of the New Zealand sporting press. Mr. iH. M'Kellar-Wix. seconded tho motion speaking warmly in its support

as a man with racing experience extending over 40 years. Dr. Cahill considered the principle a very bad one. Sport of ;ill descriptions should be controlled by amateurs, and he ridiculed the idea of handing over the control to paid' officials. Mr. Baldwin replied that ithe handicapping and starting at meetings was controlled by paid officials, and the system worked splendidly. \n reply to Mr. Lea-Smith, tho mover said that the Racing Conference should have the power of electing the stewards, .land that body would make arrangements as to where the officials should be in attendance on say Boxing Day, when /there were a dozen race meetings in progress on the same day. The motion on being put was lost on the voices. Votes of thanks to the retiring officers and the Chairman closed the meeting. At a meeting yesterday of the committee appointed by the stewards of the Wellington Racing Club to consider the applications for trainers' and jockeys' licenses, A. M'Pherson's application for a jockey's license was held over till /the December meeting of the stewards. Several applications for jockeys' licenses were refused, as it was considered the applicants were too young, and should be first apprenticed. It was decided to intimate to trainers that they must apply for renewal of licenses as soon as they expire according ,to the rules, as any- horses traiped by them, if entered at a meeting, would run the risk of being objected to. It has been I customary for trainers not to apply for licenses until prior to a meeting at which they had horses engaged, l