TE AROHA STAKES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22197, 26 August 1935, Page 9

TE AROHA STAKES

MORE DAYS URGED GROUND IMPROVEMENTS [from our own correspondent] TE AHOHA, Saturday The annual meeting of the Te Aroha Jockey Club was held last evening, Mr. It. L. Somers presiding. "In looking over the statistics I find that in the aggregates of stakes paid out and totalisator returns there is not a two-day club in New Zealand which comes anywhere near Te Aroha's figures-r-in fact, we are paying out more in stakes and handling larger totalisator investments than many of the four and six-day clubs," said Mr. Somers. "1. mentiorf this," he continued, "not to make .invidious distinctions between our own and other clubs, but solely to show the justice of our claims to be granted permission to race on four days a year. All our representations to this end have so far been resultless, but when it is considered that, last, year we paid the Government €4OOO by way of taxation on two days' racing it would surely be good business to increase oilr opportunities of contributing so handsomely to the State exchequer. "We know," continued Mr. Somers, " that this heavy taxation of racing is frequently advanced as the reason for the present difficulties of clubs and racing generally, but personally I do not believe it. is taxation which is keeping clubs back It is more a matter of the policy individual clubs adopt. What incentive, for instance, was a 'L'SO stake to an owner, to transport a horse 50 or 100 miles? If clubs generally would adopt a bold course of substantially. increasing stakes they would soon stop the present deplorable 'trek' of New Zealand horses to Australia." Mr. Somers stated the improvements to totalisator and terraces would be completed in about two months' time. Accommodation would thereby be doubled, without interfering with the view of any spectators. Mr. F. I Hunt, who has been an active worker in the club for 25 years, was elected a life member. Officers were elected as follows: President. Mr. R. L. Somers; vicepresidents. Messrs. P. Paine, R. Burke and B Johnson; bon. secretary and treasurer. Mr. J P Somers; committee, Messrs K J Aislabie, J A. Hepburn. G. P. Goodfellow, were the nonrctjring members, and Messrs G. McGlashan, F. T. Rowe, J. Kenny, retiring members, were re-elected; Mr. C. H. Murphy was a new member elected. SUPPORT FOR SYNAGOGUE

VOITRE'S MOUNT IN EPSOM [from our own correspondent] SYDNEY. Aug. 17 The New Zealand-bred Synagogue was substantially supported this week for the Epsom Handicap, being coupled with all the horses who look like having a'chance in the Metropolitan. Synagogue was started in a six furlongs handicap at Flemiugton Inst Saturday, but weakened tit the end of five furlongs. It is' certain that he will be much improved bv the run. K. Voitre is given full credit for riding an excellent race on Metro in the Ncrrin Nerrin Handicap at Flcmington He took his mount to the front, and. slowing down the field, went on and won nicely at the finish. Voitre's services were sought after for Hall Mark in the Epsom Handicap, but he had already been engaged for Svnagogue. nnd will ride Break Up in the Metropolitan. HORSES FOR FIJI PURCHASE OF TWO MORE The sale of two more horses to Mr. D. B Costello, of Suva, making five in all, is reported by Mr. G L. Stead One is the four-year-old mare Pola Dance, by Spear Dance from Cupola, nnd the other is a three-year-old fullsister to Versant, by Surveyor—Te . Moti. The five horses will shortly be shipped to Fiji. C. MORAN VISITS EPSOM FOUR HORSES FOR MEETING The Hamilton trotting trainer C. Moran, who visited Auckland on Saturday for the Pakiiranga Hunt race meeting, was an interested spectator of the j trials at Epsom in the morning.' He stated that he woiild have four norses racing at the Auckland trotting meet- j jna i next Saturday,namely, Kdna Worthy, Hockella, General Sarsfield and Meadow King. He will arrive on Thursday afternoon with two of his charges, and will make a second trip with the other two on Friday morning Moran said that considering the spell of wet weather his team was fairly well forward. Meadow King has taken to the pacing business satisfactorily, but may require racing in the straps to train confidence. Moran has General Sarsfield nnd Rockella entered for the saddle race the second day, but will not decide on his representative, who will br ridden by A. Cranston, until after the first (lav's racing. Moran opened the racing season at Ellcrslio with a win with Silver Brier. TRAINER'S NEW ROLE APPOINTMENTS AS STARTER fllY TELEQRAI'H —OWN CORRESPONDENT | DUNEDIN. Sunday The Wingatui trainer C. Gieseler seems to be first in the running for the position of starter at Otago and South land meetings rendered vacant by the retirement of Mr. A. 1) Mclvor. Gieseler has been appointed to act at the Dunedin spring meeting, tho Gore spring meeting and at Kurow. Further appointments depend on how he shapes. The other clubs are waiting, but the Southland Racing Club intends appointing its caretaker, K. Marshall, to the position, and he may obtain a share of the Southland meetings. W. Hancock, who has been head lad for Gieseler for the past six years, will take over the latter's horses for the spring meetings.