AUCKLAND RACING CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 26081, 21 April 1947, Page 3

AUCKLAND RACING CLUB

COMMISSION CHAIRMAN'S CRITICISM •* EASY AND SELF-SATISFIED ATTITUDE " (P.A.) AUCKLAND,' April 18. When Mr V. R, Meredith,. for the Auckland Racing Club, said he was handing in four submissions for" the , club, and did'not propose to call-.any the chairman, Mr Justice Finlay, said he thought-some evidence should be .called by the dub. Hie commission wanted to hear about the safety of' the course, and ! also about the club buying a day’s racing" perr mit from the Pakuranga Hunt Club.' The latter action was .somewhat a . serious departure from the purpose: for which a license was granted to the ■> hunt club. There was also the question of a number of days’ racing which the Auckland Club had which yras out of all proportion to those of other centres. L' - 1 “ 1 have the impression that the Auckland Racing Club 'is treating everything very lightly \ and ■ • cava- • lierly,” said the chairman. “It is a little cavalier to have rill ’ these allegations and. claims made, and\ then stand dispassionately by, as a very definite "attack is being made on the advantages which the Auckland Rac- - ing Club enjoys.” He added that-the commission was disturbed- at " the easy and self-satisfied attitude of the-club. . Mr Meredith said the Auckland Racing Club had no intention of treating the question lightly, but it did riot want to load the > commission’s time. Counsel then called Dr A. McGregor Grant, president of the club. Dr Grant said that the Ellerslie steeplechase course was a jockey’s, pafadise if he considered how to ride it. ‘ It' - was riot inhuman to send horses three times over the hill, as the race was a supreme test for a steeplechase horse, and he considered ■ that the jumps were good and fair.:. Mr Meredith said that the club would study the report of the evidence; and submit further' evidence in Wellington. * , . , ■•;