SYDNEY RACECOURSES

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 108, 2 November 1929, Page 19

SYDNEY RACECOURSES

PUNTING AND PLAY

(From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, 25tii. October. ■■ I The question whether the ten racocourses in ths metropolitan area of Sydney, on one or other of which there is racing practically every day in the week, can be classed among the amenities or the drawbacks of the community, is one on which, of course, opinions vary. , The fact, however, that sections of these courses are to be used as sports grounds, at a purely nominal fee-, on non-racing days, invests the so-called snort of kings in Sydney with a new interest. What have been the exclusive of punters are now to serve, especially for women's organisations, the sporting needs of the community in a non-speculative way, This has been made possible as a result largely of the good offices of Mr. J. M. Dunningham, one of Sydney's prominent bookmakers, who now sits in Parliament, and whose fine civic sense has also been reflected in aldcrinanic and other, public capacities at Itendwick. I Oue of tho racing clubs has already j takou the lead, by setting apart its j course, on non-racing days, as Uiu home of orip of the golf clubs, and by placing its big motor paddock at the disposal of the local school children as a sports ground. This move by the vae-j ing clubs ought to help to overcome the crying need.for mor,o sports grounds in Sydney. The ten courses in the metropolis occupy iv all quite a big acreage. Originally, in several cases, swamp land, or land that had little or no prospects from a residential aspect, huge sums have been laid out on these courses. In a number of instances they have pioneered settlement, so they have not been altogether an unmixed evil, even if the Churches would like to see them all swallowed up as an iniquity of the devil. ■