WOODVILLE D.J. CLUB

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3432, 21 August 1926, Page 10

WOODVILLE D.J. CLUB

ANNUAL RKPOKT. In submitting their Annual report and statement for the season 192526, the stewards of the Woodville D. J Club call attention to the satisfactory state shown by the latter. At the end of (ho last financial year, the Club was indebted to the Hank for £783 2s 4d, while this year the account was in credit to the amount of £575 os sd. The stewards considered the result a justificaion of the cautious policy pursued by them during the unsettled times, and although the Club was probably in a better financial position than the great majority of racing clubs, it had no reserve for replacing its costly and rapidly depreciating appointments. Though the stewards tried to run the Club as far as possible on sound business lines, they admitted this was a weakness. During the year improvements had been affected in the buildings. The refund of £250 of, the dividend tax by the Government helped to defray the cost of these works, but did not cover it all.

The stewards had other improve merits under consideration, but would be glided by the liuancial prospects and the urgency of the need

The caretaker, Mr. Pritchard, still achieved the high standard of track maintenance for which he was noted far beyond his own district. Considering the large number of horses trained at Woodwillo, his task was no easy one. A pleasing feature at the present time was the number and quality of the two-year-olds which wore receiving their primary education on the local tracks. There was every reason to hope that some of classic stakes would fall to their lot. Thc December meeting passed off very successfully, but the February meeting had to contend with two heavy handicaps. There were only three clear days, including a Sunday between the Wanganui meeting and their own. This the stewards were trying to remedy by racing on Friday and Saturday next February. The -Marlborough Club’s meeting was allowed to clash with theirs, thereby depriving the Club of many horses which would otherwise have start there and improved the fields. Next F'ebruary the Nelson Club would clash with Woodvillc, hut though the stewards had protested, the powers that were had in their wisdom decided that Woodvillc was under no disability. ,

The active members’ list had increased slightly, being- 145 as coihpared with 136 last year. During the past year there passed away Mr. J. B. Huntley, a very old member and ,an official of the CluD in various roles in the early days, f.aler members who had died since the last annual meeting wore Messrs F. C Armistead, John Doggett and A. M. McKay.