RACING TAXATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20870, 12 May 1931, Page 7

RACING TAXATION.

BURDEN UPON OWNERS. MR. G. F. MOORE'S POSITION. The retirement of prominent racing men from active participation in the turf is a matter of serious concern, says the Cliristchuich Times. A few years ago there was a very substantial coterie of men of wealth and standing tailing a keen interest in racing, and their operations were extensive and valuable to the community. They turned over money in thousands of pounds during a racing season, employed, directly o.* indirectly, large numbers of men, and their activities were responsible for much good to the community in other directions. Where such men could once be counted in dozens, they are now very few. Only the other day Mr. A. B. Williams, who could t>o regarded as one of (lie pillars of New Zealand racing so far as owners are concerned, announced his retirement. In doing so, Mr. Williams staied that he found present-day taxation of racing too much of a burden. This, coupled with tlie fact that racing legislation made it impossible to exploit stable knowledge to the fullest possible extent, to the benefit of his annual racing account, made one of the principal reasons for his decision. Now comes a similar announcement from another prominent owner and bleeder, Mr. (j. L'\ Moore. Mr. Moore writes:—

" During the present difficult financial times, I feel that 1 ought not to be carrying on racing at all; but. despite a very heavy overdraft at the bank, 1 hope to he able to continue until the end of next racing season, when, unless I have remarkably good luck, I shall be compelled to give it up, or at best reduce m.v teams to not more than two horses. It is with very great regrel that I have been forced to come to this decision, for I have taken a keen interest in breeding and racing horses. But bad times, coupled with severe taxation, have left no other course open to mo. In fact, had I been able to sell them at anything like a fair price, my racing team would have been reduced already. "Overhead expenses in connection with my farming business have had to_ be curtailed." Mr. Moore continues. "My only excuse, therefore, fdr carrying on racing as I am doing is that I recognise that it is an industry which employs a large number of people who would fuul it difficult to obtain employment at other work, and I do not wish to throw away good horses. I honestly think it is the duty of the Government to pass the gaming amendments to enable racing clubs to have a better chance oi carrying on. for, if racing were to cease, the unemployment problem would bo aggravated tremendously, and it cannot be denied that even the metropolitan clubs are feeling the pinch very severely now. "As long as people continue to race without protest, the Government will have some justification for thinking that all is well with this industry, and may even bo tempted to impose additional taxation upon it, which would kill it altogether."

CANTERBURY TROTTING. LIKELY TWO-YEAR-OLDS. SAPLING STAKES CONTEST. [FROM OUR OWN' CORRESPONDENT.] CHMSTCHUnCII. Saturday. The resignation of Mr. G. McMillan, cf Auckland, ns a member of the board of the New Zealand Trotting Association was received at last week's meeting. His withdrawal was not altogether unexpected, for for some months past Mr. McMillan has found it impossible, through business engagements, to attend meetings. By his resignation the association loses one of its best-versed members and a sportsman who has spent a lot of money on trotters and pacers. Mr. 11. W. Kitchingham, who was in Christchurch last week, reports a good deal of progress in regard to the Futurity Stakes which the Greymouth Trotting Club is staging. Already a number of entries have been received and one of these is a colt by Wrack from Alpha Bingen, the latter tracing back to Alpha H, who won the first Futurity run in Greymouth after having had to race in five heata, She won -he last three. Alpha H was bred by the Australian sportsman, Mr. J. A. Buckland. owner of the champion trotter Fritz, and was brought to New Zealand and sold 10 Mr. J. A. Sligo, of Dunedin. In her recent racing Arethusa has been driven by her trainer, D. Warren, and, although she managed to run a good second at the Easter meeting at Addington, it waa noted that M. Holmes had the drive in the Ritchie Memorial at Forbur.v Park. The filly was sent out the shortest-priced favourite of the day. She won like a little champion, but Rollo was pressing her hard at the finish. Rollo has a torrent of spee 1. is a good stayer, and there is no knowing what heights he may reach in the pacing game. He is one of R. B. Berry's charge? and he may be seen on Auckland courses before the season ends. Bed Shadow's Promise.

It is doubtful whether a three-year-old of the calibre of Red Shadow has previously graced a New Zealand racecourse, for this fellow has shown his ability over all dis tances, from a niile> and a-quarter to two miles, and, although he prefers a firm track, ho has been quite at home in the mud or on the grass. A large price was paid for him us u youngster by Messrs. G. Leyell and F. Neale,'but the latter.not Jong ago sold his interest to Mr. Deyell, who may now be regarded as having sectued a bargain. Red Shadow is not being hurried, but the odds are that he will develop into a .New Zealand Cup horse. In Great Way C. S. Donald has a trotter above the average, and this gelding looks like bringing into the limelight the Ameri-can-bred i'eterwah as a sire. Peterwah was a truly great horse oil Ins day, but his days were too lew and far between to make him a truly great racehorse, and this not his two nnles record of 4.23 4-5. i'eterwah is now a member ol W. J. lomkinson's Addington team. Trainers are paying some attention to two-jear-olds just now with the .New Zealand Sapling Stakes in view. J. Bryce has a good sort, Finnebrogue, who is by Matchlight, while i'\ G. Holmes has u filly ly Travis Axworthy from a llal McKiuney mare, therefore a hall-sister to Muriel tie Oro. Holmes has been giving this filly plenty of steady exercise, and he may ha>e the honour this year of producing his first classic winner. However, the Sapling Stakes seems to be mortgaged to L. Warren and J. Bryce, both of whom have won the race on several occasions. Bussell's Auckland Team. A. E. Bussell will be oil to Auckland very shortly with a fairly strong team that will include Happy Land, Great Glee. Urui and perhaps another. In Canterbury this trainer is rapidly coming to the lore and 1, 0 is getting together a good stable. One of the best he has is Great Chenault, who just at present is sufering from a bad knee, tiic result of having struck himself before going into his present quarters. _ Bussell may cure him of his knee-knocking tendencies, in which case many good races will come his way. He is a pacer well above tne average when conditions suit. When W. J. Tonikinson trained Pageant,, who was held under lease by Messrs. Armstrong and Johnson, of Wellington, he scored a number of successes with him, but finally discarded him. After the gelding had had a good spe.ll, he was purchased by Miss IS. Hinds more as a working companion for llarold Logan than for any oilier purpose. lie was put into R. J. Humphreys' rare, and such improvt-mcnl did lie show that he was started on several occasions At Forbury I'ark hist, week Tonikinson was asked to take the drive and he had the pleasure of driving his east-oli' a dead-beat with the crack three-year-old Red Shadow. Humphreys may not be a crack driver, but he is one. who learnt his business in a hard school, and there are few who can show him points in the training of a horse. Harold Logan and Pageant, both discards from other stables, show his ability in no uncertain manner. TE KUITI HANDICAPS. Additional handicaps for Ihe Te Kuiti meetiligr are:—Awnkino Handicap: Alloy. 7.0. Te Kumi Handicap; British Princess. 7.7. Kopaki Ilurdleb: Loving Clip, 0.0. TROTTING FIXTURES. May 10—'Waikato Trotting Club. Mnv n;—Oamixru Trotting, Club. May J10 —Waikato Trotting Club. June 3, C—Canterbury Park Trotting Club.