RACING MERGER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23053, 2 June 1938, Page 12

RACING MERGER

ABSOEPTION OF CLUB AUCKLAND AND TAKAPUNA AGREEMENT COMPLETED THE EARLIER NEGOTIATIONS Absorption of the Takapuna Jockey Club by the Auckland Racing Club has been agreed to by a conference between representatives of the two organisations. Arrangements between the two clubs, whereby Takapuna held its meetings at Ellerslie, were approved by the executive committee "of the New Zealand Racing Conference, in 1934. Following a fatal accident at the summer meeting at Takapuna in January, 1934, an official inspection of the course was made by Messrs. C. Gomer and B. N. Sandilands, stipendiary stewards to the New Zealand Racing Conference. Their report was to the effect that the track did not lend itself to safe and clean riding. New Track Suggested Plans for a new track were submitted by the club to the executive committee of the conference later in 1934, and application was then made to the Auckland Racing Club for permission to race at Ellerslie white the work was in progress. The request was refused. A report submitted at the annual meeting of the conference on July 13 stated that the executive committee was far from satisfied that the proposed alterations would render the course safe for racing. If the club proceeded with the work it must be upon the distinct understanding that no permit would be granted to it to race on the course unless the committee was satisfied upon inspection that the course as altered was safe. Scheme Dropped A warning was given that the responsibility of spending money on the alterations rested entirely on the club, which might not receive a permit to hold any races whatever on the altered course. The committee did not approve of the club's dates for the ensuing season being granted for any race meeting at Takapuna. The arrangement for the Takapuna Club to hold its future meetings at Ellerslie followed these rulings.