RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 21823, 12 September 1934, Page 13

RACING NOTES

RACING. September 15.—Ashburton C. Racing Club. September 13, 15.—Wanganui Jockey Club. September 20, 22.—Geraldine Racing Club. September 22.—I'oxton Racing Club. September 28, 29.—Marlborough Racing Club. September 29. —Napier Park Racing Club. September 29, October 1. —Taumarunui Racing Club. September 29.—Oamaru Jockey Club. October 4, 6.—D.J.C. October 22, 23.—Gore Racing Club. OAMARU JOCKEY CLUB. The annual general meeting of members of the Oamaru Jockey Club was held yesterday afternoon, when the president, Mr Ken Austin, was in the chair, and there was a fair attendance. The annual report stated: In spite of the adverse conditions that were met with' during the year, a small profit of £25 5s 5d is shown, after making provision for all expenses and claims from owners in connection with the abandoned winter meeting. This is the fifth time in succession the club has shown a surplus on each year’s working, and considering the effects of tho past few years of the depression, this result must be considered to be particularly gratifying and encouraging. The clubls capital account now stands at £606 11s 7d, as compared with £1,131 6s 2d last year, but this reduction is caused by the writing off of the whole of the club’s indebtedness in connection with the erection of tho new stewards’ stand. ’ The club held two meetings during the year, the New Year fixture on January 2, which proved most .successful both front a racing and a financial point of view, and a two-day fixture on March 23 and 24. This meeting provided some excellent racing, and was well supported by owners and trainers, but unfortunately owing to its proximity to tho Easter holidays, the attendance and, consequently the totalisator return was soihewhat seriously affected, with the result that the meeting showed a small loss. The Winter Meeting, which was to have been held on June 30, was splendidly supported by owners and trainers, and gave every indication of being a very good meeting, but bad weather, accompanied by a snowstorm was experienced, and after discussing the situation with those owners and trainers present, the stewards decided to abandon the meeting and pay half the transport expenses of horses, trainers, and attendants. It was most regrettable that this decision had to be made, and,the club wishes to place on record its appreciation of the attitude of owners and trainers, who took the abandonment in true sporting fashion. This abandoned meeting cost the club nearly £l7O, but the loss would have been several times greater if it had been carried oh. In view, * therefore, of the two reverses which the club met with during the year, it is a matter for congratulation that in spite of these, no loss has been made on tho year’s workings. During "the year the following taxation was paid to the Government : Totalisator tax £960 Dividend tax 1,049 Stakes tax ... 146 Amusement tax 68 Total £2,223 While the Government has benefited to this extent, the club has had to run all tho risks associated with tho holding of its meetings. The club gave £2,875 in stakes, while the Government received at no expense whatever £2,223 in taxation, yet, it is surprising that the relief of 1 per cent, of total!sator tax which has been granted for the last two years, has this year been cut down to i per cent. This has meant that in very many cases stakes have had to bo reduced by clubs in order to make up for the reduced income. Stakes are small enough indeed, without the Government making matters more difficult for those owners who are sticking loyally to the sport. It is sincerely hoped that the Government will do something to lighten the heavy burden of taxation under which racing is now labouring. The new stewards’ stand, which has just been completed, is a handsome addition to the appointments at the course, and club, members may take pride in the fact that the Oamaru course now comparies most favourably with any other country course ; outside the main metropolitan centres. _ The club wishes to record its appreciation of the action of the Oamai;n Trotting Club in regard to the financing of the building of the stand. The club’s liability in this direction is limited to £550, of which £250 has been paid for. The balance of £3OO has been advanced by the trotting club at a low rate of interest, and is to be repaid as the finances of the club will permit. One of the features of the new stand is to provide a portion of the seating accommodation for members, an arrangement which is sure to be greatly appreciated. ' . A recent development of interest lias been the proposed amalgamation of the Kurow Jockey Club with Oamaru as requested by the New Zealand Racing Conference. However, it was not found possible to arrive at a satisfactory basis of amalgamation, and as Kurow has applied for a date in March next, your committee lias decided to hold a spring meeting on September 29 (formerly Kurow’s date) and an attractive programme is being offered. This date fits into the very good ( racing circuit of the Ashburton, Geraldine, Oamaru, and Dunedin meetings. Time has again taken toll of some of our best supporters. During the year the committee suffered a loss in the death of the late Mr T. P. Crawford, who for many years, was a most energetic member of the committee. Other members who passed away during the year were:—Messrs J. R. Gilchrist, W. Smith, J. B. Lawrence, W. R. Walker, and J. B. Taylor. 1 The club wishes to convey to their relatives its sincere sympathy in their bereavements. Mr A. J. Foster, was appointed by the committee to fill tho vacancy caused by the death of the late Mr T. P. Crawford.

The following members of the committee are duo to retire, but are eligible for re-election :—Messrs - G. Bruce, J. Henderson, L. Kelcher, G. Livingstone, E. P. Houghton, and Dr A. Smith Morton. In the event of their being more nominations than are required, a postal ballot is necessary under tne rules. Nominations for the vacancies close at the annual meeting. The balance-sheet shows that the gross revenue from the totalisator for the three days’ racing was £3,938 7s lOd Joss taxes paid £2,223 3s 7d; (loft a net income or £1,71.5 4s 3d; nominations amounted to £527 10s, acceptances £362 ss, gates £OO4 5s Ctl, race cards £2OB 18s 6d, privileges £SO 10s, and rentals from loose boxes £59 us, making the total race-meeting receipts £3,527 18s 3d. The expenditure on this account was :—Stakes (less tax of £143 15s) £2.731 ss. officials’ salaries and wages £223 10s Cd, printing and

TROTTING. September 29. Mekhven Trotting Club. October 6.—New Brighton Trotting Club. October 12, 13. Westport Trotting Gliab. October 13.—Waikato Trotting Club. October 20. 22.—Auckland Trotting Club. October 20. 22. Greymouth Trotting Club October 22.—Oamaru Trotting Club. October 22.—Manawatu Trotting Club. October 27.—Wellington Trotting Club. November 6,8, 9.—Now Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club. November 10.— Te Aroha Trotting Club. November 22, 24.—Forbury Park Trotting Club.

advertising £94 16s 7d, luncheons, otc. £47 13s 4d, bands £ls, public risk insurance £lB, sundries £37 5s Id, leaving a profit of £360 7s 9d. To this amount is added, members’ subscriptions £242 Is, training fees £29 ss, and interest £37 8s 2d, making the total net income for the season £669 Is lid. The cost of administration for tho season was, salaries, wages, and audit, £243, levies to file New Zealand Racing Conference and District Committee £6S 8s 9d, repairs and maintenance £55 16s Id, water rates £ll, insurances £26 9s 3d, printing, stationery, ami advertising £ls 10s 9d, and sundries £54 18s 6a, making a total of £475 3s 2d, and leaving a net profit of £193 18s 9d, Against this, however, the expenses of, and claims to owners in regard to the abandoned Winter meeting, cost £l6B 13s 4d, which leaves a net profit for tho year of £25 5s sd.

The statement of assets and liabilities shows the former to consist of plant and furniture £157 4s, sundry debtors for nominations and acceptances £l3O T2s lOd, outstanding members’ subscriptions £157 7s 9d, sundries £36 14s 6d, cash on deposit and call £BO7 14s 3d, which, after providing a reserve for doubtful debts of £BB 18s, totals £1,200 15s 4d. The linbilties include sundry creditors £lßl 5s 2d, Oamaru Trotting Club (loan re stewards’ stand) £302 ss, National Bank £llO 13s 7d, and cost of new stewards’ stand £550, leaving'a balance to tho credit of capital account of £66 11s 7d. In moving the adoption of these documents the Chairman congratulated tho members on the satisfactory year experienced and on the financial position of the club. Ho thanked tho owners and trainers for the support given during the .past year, the Oamaru Trotting Club for its co-opera-tion. and help in erecting the stands, Mr J. O’Brien for the attention given the tracks, . and the secretary for his good work.

The election of office-bearers for tho ensuing year resulted:—President, Mr Ken Austin (re-elected)vice-presi-dent, Mr Arthur Gardiher (re-elected); committee—Messrs G. Bruce, J. Henderson, L. Kelchor, G. Livingstone, E. P. Houghton, and Dr A. Smith Marton (re-elected). Mr W. M'Corobie was reappointed auditor. Seven new members were eleetd.

Dr Fitzgerald suggested that a portion of the main grand stand should be reserved for members and their wives. Mr Austin (chairman) said that he had discussed this proposal with Mr Hannon, president of the Trotting Club, who had expressed approval of the suggestion, and it was decided to write that club asking for their mutual cooperation in the matter. Referring to the conference of country clubs in the North Otago and South Canterbury districts, field since the last annual meeting, the Chairman said that though no finality was reached a certain amount of good had resulted from the conference. JOTTINGS. Next Friday will be an important day for owners and trainers, as nominations close for the Dunedin Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting that evening. It is many years since J. Rutledge has not had something in work at this period of the season. Last season was a lean one for this veteran trainer. C. Gieseler has now got a string of thirteen horses in his care, and will have nine of them engaged at the forthcoming meeting of the Dunedin Jockey Club. It is reported that quite a good commission was placed on Silk Arrow’s chance when he won at the Otago Hunt meeting. His backers obtained a most remunerative price. ' ■ , Mr J. Carter has recently placed a well-grown three-year-old Paladin gelding in George Fielding’s care. The youngster goes back to Martian on his dam’s side, and should be some good. Lammerlaw is to be given a spell from tho training tracks until next winter, and will be hacked about on his owner’s station. He is a fine, bold jumper, and will be all the better for another, year, » At the annual meeting of members of the Oamaru Jockey Club a motion of sympathy was carried and ordered to be couveyecl to Mr A. D. M‘lvor on tho death of his sister. Bad weather has interfered with tho financial results of tho last two meetings held by the Tapanui Racing Club, and at a recent meeting of the committee it was decided to reduce the stakes for this season’s fixture by £9O. Camisader is now doing duty as a station hack in Central Otago. Mr Treacy had a chance of selling him, but made sure that the son of Tractor and Whiplash would have a good home for the remainder of his. days. After rendering good and appreciated services as secretary to the Tapanui Racing Club for a number of years, Mr A. Munyard recently tendered his resignation, which was accepted with regret. Mr T. Edgar has been appointed to the vacancy. At a recent meeting of the committee of the Winton Jockey Club a programme for tho annual race meeting was drafted, and the stakes have been increased by £l7O as compared with last year’s programme. No ?take will now be worth less than £7O. T. G. Pollock has a useful, team of gallopers in work at Gore, including four of Mr W. L. Milne's horses. Palermo was not brought south again after tho Grand National meeting, hut remained iu E. J.'Ellis’s stable at Wasbdyke. Peter Gallagher, who won both light harness events at tho Otago Hunt meeting this week, has a useful team of voung ones at work on his track at Omakau. Gallagher had a good season last year, and has started off on the ripht’leg again this season. One of the surprise nominations for this year’s New Zealand Cup is Red Racer, who is now eleven years old. Ho has a Dunedin Cup to' his credit, and has won several times over ten furlongs, but a New Zealand Cup looks far too rich for this aged son of Solferino and Soldier’s Fancy. Tho Wairio Jockey Club will celebrate its jubilee at its annual race meeting next January, and in addition to increasing the stakes by £IOO, has decided to add a suitably-inscribed trophy to the stake of each race, and present the winning trainers and most successful horseman at each 'meeting with a trophy costing £5. Mrs J. Talbot (nee Miss Mary Statbain) came down from South Canterbury to assist at the Otago Hunt Club’s Point-to-point Races last Satur-

day. She has been a very keen follower of this |>ack for some years. On Red Shadow she rode a very well-judged race after getting badly left at the start, and won by a narrow margin. The Vincent Jockey Club will celebrate its jubilee meeting next January, and the members intend_ marking the occasion by making a big increase in the stakes to be given. This club is the only one in the dominion that did not make some reduction in the amount of stakes given each year during the years of depression. When Gustavo finished third in the Tally Ho Handicap at the Otago Hunt Meeting he was having his last race, and in the course of a few days will be sent up to Mr; Con. White’s stud at Omakau. Gustavo is a beautifullybred horse; and has proved himself on the race track, so should make a good sire.

Motukarara, 1 who was, » _ runner at the Otago Hunt Club’s Point-to-point Races on Saturday, is a full brother to the steeplechaser Willow Glen, and is trained by R. M'Kay for Mr James Lindsay. He is one of the tear-away sort at the present time, but with a little more experience Should develop into a useful jumper between the flaks. The Riverton tracks are in splendid order at the present time, but only ten horses are being worked at that centre just now. Amongst them, however, ate two New Zealand Cup candidates, Tqtolomai and a three-year-old by Paladin from Fairform, a mare by Boniform. Both of these Cup horses are owned by Mr A. C. Mills, of Otautau. So far all of Rosenor’s stock that has been raced have either been returned winners or in places, and, writing from memory, all have been geldings. Mr Con. White has aii exceptionally promising gelding by this sire from Moonbeam in work at Oinakau. He is only a three-year-old, and so far not been asked to go fast, but is an attractive mover. For a number of years the sub-com-mittee that has laid off the course for the Otago Hunt Club Point-to-point steeplechases has made the course a very easy one, but this year’s country was laid out over much bigger fences, and provided a real test for hunters and riders. Only two horses negotiated it without making mistakes in the three races. In counecion with the buildings, etc., on the Oamaru racecourse, of which no reference is made in the balance-sheet of the Oamaru Jockey Club, presented to members at yesterday’s annual meeting, those being built on a reserve do not belong to the club, but to the trustees of tile course property. They were built by the Jockey and Trotting Clubs, but neither of these bodies can include them in their assets. Cough, who is one of the southernowned nominations for this year’s New Zealand Cup, did not return to P. W. Ellis’s stable after running second to The Smuggler in the Great Autumn Handicap, but went into his brother Arthur’s stable at Rifccarton. Many good judges maintain that Cough was unlucky to be beaten in the Great Autumn, and under a light impost she is quite a possibility in the big tworailo race next November. There are more horses in work on the Invercargill tracks at present than, is generally the case at this Season of the year, and amongst them are The Smuggler and Steeton, both of which are included in the New Zealand Cup nominations. The Smuggler finished second in this race last year, and afterwards won the Great Autumn Handicap. Steeton has won up to a mile and a-quarter, but does not impress one as likely to see out a two-mile journey. The Spring Meeting of the Dunedin Jockey Club, to be held early ' next month, will give two and three-year-olds the first opportuniy of meeting at their respective ages in the South Island this season. The M'Lean Stakes on the first day and Dunedin Guineas on the second day almost invariably give a lead as to .what will be the probables for the more valuable, classics to be decided at Riccartou in the month following. His trainer was very optimistic about Parasang’s chance in the Otago Hunt Cup Steeplechase, and still thinks that he would have won had Lamnierlaw not caused him to stop and then fall at the

post and rail fence a little more than a; mile from home. Parasang whs only broken in early this year, and, though the makings of a good steeplechaser, requires a good deal more experience to perfect him. He will probably appear next at the Winton Meeting.