RACING SEASON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21250, 2 August 1932, Page 7

RACING SEASON

OPENING OP NEW TEEM JOCKEYS AND TRAINERS K. VOITRE LEADING EIDER SUCCESS OF T. R. GEORGE The 1931-32 v.acing and trotting season in New Zealand was closed on Saturday with the South Canterbury Hunt Meeting at Tiinaru and the final day of the Gisborne Racing Club's Winter Meeting. The new season will be commenced next Saturday with the opening of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club's August Meeting at Addington and the Poverty Bay Hunt Club's Meeting at Gisborne. The past season has been one of difficulties for many clubs, but it had somo bright features, notable among which was the good standard of racing provided at. both racinsr and trotting meetings. With the country -still feeling the stress of. economic conditions, the outlook for the season about to begin is not bright. Further reductions in stakes soem inevitable, and, although the executives of most clubs are anxious to keep prize-money at tho highest possible level, it is probable tliat, unless the patronage of meetings is well' maintained there will have to be somo further adjustment. The abscnco of a largo number of tho Dominion's best racehorses iu Australia will be detrimental to many of tho clubs racing early in the new season, but there is every likelihood of many of these horses returning before the New Zealand Cup and the Auckland Spring Meetings in November. The exodus of horses to Australia has been disconcerting, but it is pleasing to know that most of them will eventually return. An interesting feature of tho season just closed was that the list of winning riders was headed by a young horseman, K. Yoitre, with 85 -wins, who did remarkably well considering that he wasi just out of his apprenticeship. Voitre'si ricling throughout tho year was consistently good and so was that of another light-weight, H. N. Wiggins, who had his most successful season to date with 69 wins. A little time ago Voitre stated that he was likely to go to Australia for tho spring meetings but he has abandoned that idea and he is to remain in the Dominion, where his services are certain to be in keen demand with owners. For the second year in succession the list of winning trainers was headed by Mr. J. J. Corry's private trainer, T. R. George, who is at present in Melbourne with a team comprising Make Up, Landmark and Appledore. George, who turned out the winners of 41 races; added to his season's tally by winning a race each with Appledore and Make Up in Melbourne and his success with tho latter in the Lindsay Gordon Steeplechase last Saturday would no doubt be particularly pleasing to him. It was a tribute to George's ability that be had Make Up fit enough to win last week, as that horse appeared to be feeling the effects of strenuous racing , when he left here in June and most rac- ' ing men were afraid that after Make Up bad to race at Flemington so soon after his long trip he might not strike form ig.iin for some time. LICENCES REFUSED / JOCKEYS IN VICTORIA / ~ twelve leading riders MELBOURNE, August 1 The Victoria Racing Club has taken action sgainst 12 leading riders, including N. Percival, who rode "White jNO3c, the last Melbourne Cup winner. '! Reasons are not stated, but licences have been refused to W. Brady, H. Bastian, R. A. Evans, W. J. Howson, T. Lewis. H. ilorris, N. Percival, W. Scanlon, J. S. Scarlett, P. Telian and R. Wilson. Tho permit of the apprentice, P. Egan, has also been .withdrawn. . 1 Rumours that something of the sort wai coming have been current since the club refused licences to six leading bookmakers at Flemington, but the announcement concerning the riders was delayed until the racing year ended; TAMNAKI JOCKEY CLUB FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES CANVASS FOR DEBENTURES The finances of the Taranaki Jockey Club tho principal subject of tho speech delivered by the president, Mr. L. A. Prolan, at the annual meeting last week. In spite of the fact that expenses were ' heavily reduced the two meetings held durin" the season showed only a small profit and the result for the year was a loss of £1223. Mr. Nolan said. The position was laid before members on April 6 hist. lo enable the club to pay all outgoings up to ■'/' and including December of this year, and at the same time to pay oS the bank overdraft. it was shown that a sum 9f £4OOO •was required. Authority was obtained to issue debentures to .this amount. r iho com- • /niltee recognised that it was not au opportune time to launch the project but could not suggest an alternative method. Phe resulting canvass did not yield what was anticipated. It could be said truthfully that everywhere canvassers were met with courier y and consideration and he firmly believed that under ordinary conditions tho lull amount would havo been subscribed. The result as it f.iood to-day was a subscription of £617, with a further £l2 definitely promised. The bank treated tho committee with every consideration and agreed 1o an overdraft limit of £ISOO -without a guarantee. Sufficient funds remained in hand , to meet maintenance expenses, but somo further assistance was necessary if the club v.-as to meet the interest charge owing and due before the end of November, rates, land tax and conference levies, a total of approximately £ISOO. The only revenue that might be expected was that from members' subscriptions and Ihe sale of further debentures. The position ' was difficult but not desperate. If every member would do earnestly what he could, take a debenture or debentures and securo an extra member or two, the position could te changed in a very short time.. Tho Jockey C!ub was part and parcel of tho town and was regarded as such by business people and others who were themselves not actually interested in racing. AMMON RA ON TRACKS REAPPEARANCE IN SYDNEY (Received August 1, 9.45 p.m.) SYDNEY, August 1 Amnion Ra reappeared oil tho tracks today with his forolegs banduged. , TIMARU CHARITY MEETING, THREE DIVIDENDS PROPOSED Tho Timaru Trotting Club is seeking a Permit for a charity meeting in aid of tho Central Relief Society, to be held on August 27. The club proposes to introduco tho ■/ three-dividends system on tho basis of 70. 20 and 10 per cent, as approved by tho Trotting Conference last month. The Oarnaru Trotting Club last season paid three dividends, but its percentages. 50, 30 and 20. did not meet with general favour, RACING FIXTURES August G—Poverty Bay Hunt Club. August 9, 11, 13—Canterbury Jocriey Club. <LU2Ust 20—Pakuraiiga Hunt Club.