FORBURY TROTTING CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 16514, 28 August 1917, Page 2

FORBURY TROTTING CLUB

* The annual meeting of the Forbnrv Park Trotting Club, held last night, was attended by 17 members, Mr Gabriel Hodges (president) in the chair. The Chairman, moved the adoption of the Teport and balance-sheet. He said that during the year they had wined out a debit of £179 9s Bd, donated £261 lis to war funds, spent £l3O on permanent drainage, paid £l5O for stipendiary stewards, slightly increased the stakes, and came out with a credit of £235 4s 2d Those facts required no comment. The first race for the New Zealand Trotting Stakes, for three-ycar-cld unhopuled trotters, had been, a success. Sixteen horses were nominated, there were 11 acceptors, and nine had contested tie race, a horse owned by a steward of the club being tho winner. The arrangement with the Government for tho curtailment of racing had resulted in the club losing two days cut of six. This would mean a serious reduction in their revenue. Under existing conditions it would be a mistake to increase the stakes, and the committee would be found studying economy in every shape and form. The yards starting sy tern had been a great success, and if owners and trainers would educate their horses to this system it would prove the fairest one yet tried. Last year they gave £B,OOO in stakes, and the nomination and acceptance fees had all been collected ■with the exception of £4 2s. He had to place on record the splendid services rendered by the secretary (Mr 11. L. James), who had at all times given the speaker much valuable advice, and in addition had studied the interests of the club iu every way. Mr T. Elliott seconded the motion. srhicb. was carried. The following officers were declared elected without opposition :—President, Mr Q. Hodges; vice-president, Mr T. Elliott j committee—Messrs H. T. Andrews, H. J. Gourlcy, B. S. Irwin, and J. M. Samson.