THE YEAR'S RACING

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 79, 30 September 1914, Page 4

THE YEAR'S RACING

ANNUAL MEETING OP WELLINGTON CLUB SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN STAKES. The annual meeting of the Wellington Racing Club was held last evening in the Accountants' Chambers, Johnstonstreet, the president. Mr. J. B. Harcourt, being in the chair. There was a fair attendance of members. In moving the adoption of the report •and balance-sheet (which, in summarised form, have already been published in The Post), the president congratulated members upon the conclusion of what has been quite the most successful year in the history of the Wellington Racirtg Club— firstly, as regards the interest taken in the racing, and secondly, as re' gards the financial result. The revenue showed a substantial increase under practically every heading, and as the gtakes were increased by over £5000 the result was particularly gratifying. Tho buildings and property of the club had been materially added to, and well maintained. There was at present under construction a new six, five, and four furlong course, with only a slight bend, which had necessitated the acquisition by lease of some 44 acres of ground adjoining the freehold. The new course was now being sown, and it was just possible that the club might be ablo to use it at the next January meeting. ' There was also under Construction a chain-wide grass gallop for training pXirpOaes, and when this was Completed the Trentham racecourse would bo second to none in the Dominion, so far as training facilities were concerned. - The club had now under consideration the installation of a new system of recording totalisator. investments, and negotiations Were in progress with the proprietors of the Julius totalisator, of the results of which the members would be informed. later. The machine was largely electrical, and was still in the experimental stage, and extreme care must be taken to prove its absolute infallibility. The chief merit of the new machine was that investments were recorded simultaneously with the issue of the ticket. A POPULAR INNOVATION. The year just closed, continued Mr. Harcourt, had witnessed the inauguration of the first 1000 soy weight-for-agtJ race in Wellington, the Trentham Gold Cup. The weather was badj and the field was small, but the interest in the race could be gauged by the, remarkable demonstration of . popular enthusiasm which took place at its conclusion, despite the fact that the winner was an outsider and finished several lengths ahead. During the discussion in Parliament upon Mr. Hunter's Bill, reference had been made regarding the concentration of racing in the large centres. It must be apparent to any thoughtful man that, as Mr. Hindmai'sh had so plainly put it in the House, if the breeding of highclas^ horses was to be encouraged, and the importation of the requisite strains effected,_ richly-endowed races provided the all-important factor. Metropolitan clubs, owing to the proximity of dense population, were enabled to give substantial prizes to win which breeders were not afraid to spend large sums of money in procuring the best horses from other _ countries. They quite realised the importance of, and the pleasure given by, country racing clubs, but the requirements of the country as a whole in regard to high-class horseflesh necessitated substantial stakes, which it had always been the aim of the metropolitan clubs to provide. To the totalisator. and the totalisator alone, was due the importation of high-class strains from which present supplies were obtained. Fortunately, public men, or, at any rate, a large majority of them, were alive to the advantages of the machine, the only disadvantage being the everlasting wail from people whose vision was nearly always circumscribed about the encouragement of gambling. " " MUST KEEP THINGS GOING." The President added that it was intended to_ carry on this year very much on the lines of the year just closed. They were in a large measure working in the dark, a3 it was difficult to forecast what the effect of the war would be so far as New Zealand was concerned. Of, one thing, however, they Were positive, and that was that it behoved them to continue their race meetings as, usual, and to do what they could to afford the best sport possible for the public, despite the Seriousness of the times. They must keep things going — time enough to despair when they had to. In conclusion, the President expressed his appreciation of the excellent services rendered to the club by the energetic secretary (Mr. A. E. VVhyte) and the staff employed under him. After a brief discussion the report and balance-sheet were unanimously adopted. Messrs. 0. 9: Watkins, J. W. Abbott, C. W. Tringlmm, and W. G. Johnston were elected as stewards. VOTES OF THANKS. The following motion was unanimously adopted i " That the cordial thanks of the club be given to Messrs. J. W. Abbott, William Barton, W. E. Bklwill, J. B. Harcourt, Paul Hunter, R. L. Levin, Neil M'Lean, W. H. S. Moorhouse, D. J. Nathan, L. C. Pharazyn, C. B. Pharazyn, C. P. Skerrett, J. Studholme! and R. T. Tumbull for the service rendered by them in becoming personally liable as guarantors for the sum of £2000 each in order to facilitate the purchase and equipment of the Trentliam racecourse"'. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the meeting.