TROTTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19101, 20 August 1925, Page 6

TROTTING.

AUCKLAND TROTTING CLOT. MEMBERS' ANNUAL MEETING. STEADY PROGRESS OF SPORT. The annual meeting of members of t'ho Auckland Trotting Club was held yesterday. The president, Mr. J. Rowo, occupied tho chair. "To-day completed my twefcty-pne years as president of tho club, and beforo hna it given mo Buch pleasure in moving the adoption of tho report and bailee-sheet, stated Mr. Howe, in opening his address. Continuing, ho said tho most optimistic could never have expected to reach sn.sh a record as tho balance-sheet showed in sOph a short spaco of time. When they considered that in 1912-13 tho stakes were £■1390, in 102-1-25 £27.505, tho totahsator returns! in 1912-13 £BO-601. and .in IM-fS iaiz,<ul, tho capital account iu £<32o, and in 1925 £55,000, an increase of £47,(574—-these figures went to snow tnc increased popularity of tho sport and ne was confident the committee would oo nothing to retard its progress. . . During tho year tho taxes Paid by the club wore au follows:—Totahsator tax, £ 10,318 153 ed; dividend duty, £18.575 is: stako tax, £1370; privileges t.a:t and niont tax, £llO3 18a sd; Uud tax, AAU f 8d; income tax, £298 Is (3d; a total oi £31,899 Is Id, and £4394 more tnan paid in stakes, an increase of JLlOJti on last year. The local taxes amounted to £B7B 12s 9d, and insurance, lighting ana water to £304 15a 3d. Tho club had given in stakes, including a gold cup, the sum oi £2/,OOD. * i A niovo was made at tho conference last month to dispense with the Trotting Association and in its place establish District Committees, similar to what was done in racing. The club's committee opposed what they considered a retrograde step, feeling that the present system of government was far the best, believing that district committees would result in endlcas trouble. The chairman theu dealt with a vaxiet.y of matters and expressed pleasure m the improvement in the horses,.and in tho number of horses that wero still coming from Australia. He made reference to the new permits and tho possibility of a further curtailment of limits, and hoped to see the day when no stake offer-d by the club would bo under £SOO. He said that w itb the granting of the new permits the South Island had 47 days trotting and the North Island 31 dayi, and w> lo he, was not complaining about the number in the South, still he thought there was room for some improvement in the North Island, especially at such large places as Poverty Bay, lianawatu and Hawke's Bay. Mr. Rowo d-alt with the question of largo fields and said that although each year paw the retirement of a number of horses the club's lists of nominations clearly showed the leeway was more than balanced by Ihe hugo entries received. As a matter of fact, he submitted tho time had arrived wlr'-n something mu3t be done to cope with large fields. It was fairly common to seo from 20 to 30 horses competing in harness races. A number of accidents. fortunately so .ar unattended with serious results, h&d tak'n place, but unless something was done he feared they would not always be so fortunate. He pointed out that practically not one horso in such big fields was given a fair chance. No owner with a modicum of common semie could support his horue with any confidence, and the same remark applied with equal force to the general supporter of the sport. He trusted the matter would receive the consideration of the committee when drawing up the next year's programme, as it was impossible to raco decently under such conditions. The new stand was completed and furnished at a cost, of £03,029 13s Bd, and he congratulated the club on having a grandstand second to none in the Dominion. The club had decided for the future to race in June, in of April, and June 23, being the Prineo of Wales' Birthday, would be a fixed date. It was proposed to put down a sand training track at Epsom directly after the Flo°-t Meeting. Mr. Howe referred to tho charges for the carriage of horses on tho railways, which he considered too high, and congratulated licensed riders and drivers on their general good conduct during the year, as well as the officials and stipendiary stewards on their efficient work In conclusion, he congratulated members on the very fine position the club had attained, and sincerely trusted it would still prosper and Krow. It was decided to send a letter to the secretary, Mr. C. P. Mark, who was unable to attend the meeting, sympathising with him in liia illness and expressing an earnest wish that he. would soon bo restored to health. Several speakers eulogised the work of the president on behiilf of the club, and he was heartily congratulated on having filled that office for a term of twenty-one years. EPSOM TRAINING NOTES. YESTERDAY'S WORK. BY PICADOR. There were plenty of horses working at Alexandra Park yesterday morning but very little fast work was accomplished. Glandore (G. Hill) did a sound work-out over two miles and paced resolutely throughout. This fellow has dono a good deal of work and looks well. G. McKendrick drove Dillon Huon a milo and a-quarter, which was accomplished in fair time. Dillon Huon is a rough-gaited pacer, but puts plenty of dash into his work. A. Newdick was present with First Carbine, Grey Peter and Ruby Huon. The first-nameci was indulged in solid work without the Btraps and tho other pair were jogged in the centre. The Southerners, Logan Chief, Clonmel, Young Blake, and Sheik, who arrived tho previous evening, were jogged. All look hard and well. S. August indulged Hue Coronado in strong work without hopples. A large number of others worked, including Brendo, Anoijirani, Bundaberg. Pyramus. Haricot. Wimmera King, Somo Jazz. Harvest Homo. Ro«t.rovor, Rockburn and Master Councillor. Their tasks were of tho light order.