RECORD TOTALISATOR TURNOVER REPORTED BY WESTLAND CLUB

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 September 1949, Page 7

RECORD TOTALISATOR TURNOVER REPORTED BY WESTLAND CLUB

A record totalisator turnover was established by the Westland Racing Club for the year just ended. The figure for all meetings was £45,676, an average of £15,225 per day, compared with £44,672, an average of £14,891, in the 1948 year. In spite of a considerable drop in gate and race book receipts due to a smaller attendance, the December meeting was a great success financially being a record day for the totalisator. This information was given in the annual report presented to the annual meeting of the Club this week. It was reported to the meeting that the following racing dates had been allocated to the club for the corning season: —Saturday, December 17, 1949; Saturday and Monday, February 18 and 20, 1950. The Reefton Club, it was pointed out, had been allocated a date on December 10, 1949, and members discussed whether or not this would have an adverse affect on the club’s meeting on the following Saturday. This matter will be dealt with by the committee at a later date. The chairman, Mr IVI. H. Houston, raised the question of building a new entrance to the stewards’ and officials’ stands in order to keep the birdcage clear of unauthorised persons. On Mr Houston’s motion, the subject was referred to the course committee for urgent action with full power to act. Reference was made by members to the excellent service given to the club by the honorary caretaker, Mr T. Staines, jun. Members stood in silence in respect to the memory of the following members of the club who have died during the year: Messrs G. Adamson Snr., A. Chesney. J. Hurren Snr., W. A. Jamieson, W. Searle Snr., T. J. Stuart.

The following officers were elected: —Patron, Mr W. J. Radford; (reelected). President: Mr M. H. Houston (re-elected). Vice-presidents: Messrs F. McGregor, R. Whitey, H. Butiand. Re-elected with the addition of Messrs J. J. Breeze. Committee: Messrs M. B. James. H. Kortegast, J. C. McFarlane, C. Schroder, A. Stevenson, T. Staines Jur., W. H. Stopforth, D. J. Hyndman, H. Wells, G. H. Neilson and E: Rankin. Auditor: Mr W. J. Gutberlet. Five new members were elected.

Colonist II Wins Again

LONDON. September 22.—Mr Winston Churchill’s! horse, Colonist 11, completed the hat-trick this afternoon by winning the Ribblesdale Stakes at Ascot. Colonist II won by eight lengths from. Sardonys 11, which was ridden by Gordon Richards. Mr Churchill arrived unobtrusively just before the race, but the crowd spotted him, and shouts of “Good luck, Winnie,” rang across! the racecourse. The crowd again burst into cheers when Colonist 11, which started favourite, took the lead and won,

Jockey Disqualified The jockey, L. W. Ford, was disqualified for 12 months as from- yesterday by the Racing Conference appeal judges, Sir Arthur Donnelly, Mr W. A. White and Mr J. Jameson. This was the outcome of an appeal by the chief stipendiary steward, directed by the executive committee of the conference, against the decision of the Hawke’s ' Bay district committee, which upheld the appeals by A. W. Meikle, part-owner and trainer of the horse, Pimlico, and Ford, the rider, against a finding of the judicial committee of the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club which disqualified each of them for a period of three months as from July 4 in connection with the running of Pimlico in the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles! at Hastings on July 2. . The judges said they were of the opinion that the charge against Ford was proved and the stipendiary steward’s appeal in his case was allowed. The judges considered the charge against Meikle was not proved, and. in his case the appeal was) dismissed.— (P.A.)