SPORTING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 21 May 1926, Page 5

SPORTING.

A CHRISTCHURCH SCHEME

USE OF JOCKEY CLUB’S COURSE.

(BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 20.

At the annual meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club to-day Mr W. H. Norton, who is a member of the Metropolitan Trotting Club, proposed that those two clubs should enter into an arrangement whereby both would use the same course for meetings. On his 7 motion it was agreed to appoint a subcommittee to go into the details of his scheme, and if favourable, to confer with a sub-committee from the Metropolitan Trotting Club. Mr Norton’s scheme included the proposal that the Metropolitan Club should purchase for cash a nine-nineteenth part of the Jockey Club’s improvements, both clubs to become the lessees of the ground from the trustees, and future expenditure to be borne in the same proportions of nine to ten, the Jockey Club to have ten days’ racing and the Metropolitan Club nine days. The clubs would train and race on separate tracks and remain separate entities. Mr Norton detailed the benefits both clubs would derive from the arrangement, and that, that the idea was his own and had not been discussed by the Trotting Club. The chairman, Mr George Gould, said the Jockey Club would give a willing ear to the suggestion, but it was difficult for him to sec how a six furlongs track could be made. The club had some of the best training tracks in the Southern Hemisphere and would think hard before spoiling them. Mr J. 8. Barrett, a committeeman, supported the proposal and the motion w&s carried.