RACING NEWS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 216, 10 August 1940, Page 10

RACING NEWS.

WOODVILLE JOCKEY CLUB. In its report for 1939-41), the Woodvillc District Jockey Club states that, as m tho previous seasoij, the December meeting was profitable, but the February meeting was not so good, "In December tho first clay (Saturday) was tine and the Monday showery, but in February it was wet on the Saturday and it blow a gale on tho Monday. Any profit from the February meeting was to . have gone to patriotic purposes, and it was disappointing that conditions were not more kind. In spite of the fact that £465 more was being given in stakes in February, there is no doubt that, with decent weather conditions, there would have been quite a respectable sum to hand over to the patriotic funds. There were excellent fields and every indication of wide interest in the meeting. The club has made a loan to tho Government of £250 freo of interest for the duration of the war . and six months thereafter, and a donation of £25 to the Sick and Wounded Fund. The stewards propose to devote any profits made by tho club during the war to patriotic purposes. To this end, expenditure wilt be kept down as much as possible. There arc several considerable maintenance items pending, one being the boiler which must bo retubed or replaced. The town stables require painting, and -there are other matters of more or less urgency. The accommodation boxes at tho racecourse are in considerable demand, and the stewards had additions made to the feedrooms, which were badly needed. Some additions to plant were made in the way of bedding to assist the problem ot accommodation. The Danncvirkc Hunt Club was given the free use of the course for its annual race meeting, and it is gratifying to record that the meeting had every appearance of being very enjojable and successful. The active members list shows a slight falling off, there being 146 this year as against 156 last year Not only this club, but racing generally, suffered a severe loss by the death of Mr McLeod, president of tho New Zealand Racing Conference, the report adds. As an owner, lie was a loyal supporter of this club, and we believe he had a regard for us as we certainly had for him. Mr John Murray’s death deprived us of a member of nearly 40 years’ standing. lie became a steward in 1904, and occupied that position continuously until lie retired m 1936 owing to failing sigiit. He was a most useful steward, of sound judgment and strict honour, and for that reason he was a member of ground, programme and judicial committees. The late Mr H. U. Buchanan over thirty years ago, while resident at Kumeroa. was a steward and also honorary judge. Though not well known to the present generation, lie did much for this club in his time. The late Mr J. P. Goodwin was a member of this club and a true sportsman. Farm account: Without this account, the club would have shown a loss on the year’s working, and the ground committee is to bo congratulated on the result.