RACING NEWS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24972, 15 August 1944, Page 7

RACING NEWS

AUCKLAND CLUB'S YEAR,

PROFIT TO PATRIOTIC FUNDS "The committee's confidence in the results which would accrue from offering attractive prizes has been fully justified by the splendid fields and excellent racing," said the president Mr 0. Nicholson when addressing members at tho annual meeting of the Auckland Racing Club yesterday. 'Plie net profit fci Uic year of £4(178 would be distributed for the benefit of such pai r iotic purposes as commended themselves to the committee, continued Mr Nicholson. That was in accordance with the policy that during the period of the war the, club would carry on its racing operations without profit to itself. Taxation was still a very heavy burden on the sport, as for the nine days on whicli the club had raced the large sum of t'lsi\7»(> had been collected by the Government for the Consolidated Fund, made up as follows: Totalisator tax, £7»,KM; dividend duty, £(>0,171; stakes tax, £UM ; amusements tax. c:v_'lt>. Provision of the sum of £70,000 had been made to meet the hrav.v levies for the year for income and land taxes, national and social security charges, as well as local municipal rates, said Mr Nicholson. Fresh records were experienced in totalisator investments during tlie season, both as to a single race and as to daily and yearly turnovers. On the Auckland Cup £ •">:!,<> l(i was invested, and tho amount for the eight events on Boxing Day was jC'22»,107. The grand total for the year (nine days) was £ J,388,073, an increase over the previous year of £2-2-1,402. Tho club made use of an extra permit for a patriotic meetfcig and that resulted in a profit of £B-100 being paid over to the patriotic authorities and to the (government receiving in addition a sum of £11,807 for the Consolidated Fund by way of taxation. The club was in a strong: financial position due lo the pre-war policy of the committee in building up funds to provide the means of carrying out the scheme of improvements it had decided upon without heavily encumbering the club's assets to secure loans for such purpose. The wisdom of that policy would, he was sure, meet with the commendation of members. As soon as war and economic conditions permitted, the committee would vigorously proceed with all the works which had been unanimously agreed upon as being requisite for the additional convenience and comfort of members and patrons. Mr ,T, P. Kalaugher urged the committee to explore the possibilities of having installed at Ellerslie a camera for the photographing of finishes. In reply. Mr Nicholson said the committee had in hand a good deal of information recrardinir the kind of camera required and the matter would be kept in view. Mr C. M. Emanuel suggested that owing to the, amount of interference that was occurring in races thai the committee should employ a paid steward to assist the stipendiary and honorary stewards. Mr Nicholson said it might be a good idea. All suggestions and matters raised by members would receive the full consideration of the committee. The following officers were elected:—President, Mr O. Nicholson; vice-president. Dr A. McGregor Grant; committee (five seats, seven nominations), Messrs "NY. Claud Motion, F. E. McKenzie, H. Morpeth. J. H. Jerrat, A. J. Court; stewards, Messrs M. J. Lynch. E. H Nolan, Guy Ring. RICCARTON MEETING SUCCESS OF KANUI TE PAI (0.C.) CHRISTCHURCH. Monday The Lincoln Steeplechase on Saturday was the most spectacular cross-conntr.v event staged at Riccarton for many years, interest being sustained from start to finish, when all seven candidates gave dashing displays. The winner, Kanui Te Pai. was responsible for another sterling performance, his dogged finishing effort from the last fence at a stage when his prospects of overhauling Timber Topper looked remote being a feature of the day's racing. It stamped him as a horse of high courage. Timber Topper, who was reserved from the Hunt Cup, put up a game fight and only submitted a few strides from the post. The Grand National Hurdles will always be remembered by the outstanding performance of Flying Spy, who went to the front early and had her opponents beaten throughout. She made easy work of her minimum impost and gained ground at many fences by brilliant jumping. Flying Spy had one of the most convincing wins in the history of the race and now holds the distinction of being the first mare to win it. So doubt the knowledge that the rate liad never been won by one of her sex contributed to the comparatively moderate sup' port she received. By his creditable second. As Reauired added his name lo the list of winners of the Grand National Steeplechase who have filled a minor place in the Grand National Hurdles. ARequired has done vcrv well in the pn?t couple of months and is a genuine stayer The favourite, Borak. was slow to get gome over the first furlong and was called upon to give the winner many lengths' start turnin" for home. He put in some good work in I'"final stages, but could do no better than third. The biggest dividend of the day was pa# bv Kevin in the Islington Handicap. The brother to Martara ran a promising race in the Winter Cup, but the public evidently l>rlicved he was not far enough advanced to be dangerous against the more seasoned horses he was called upon to meet. The minor placings also went to horses at srood odds. Arabian Night, who won three races at Wingatui in June in heavy go;ne. gained second after a stubborn tussle with another outsider in Foxleap. and Sal's Pal.

SUCCESSFUL SEASON TROTTING AT CLAUDELANDS (0.C.) HAMILTON, Monday "A very successful year has been experienced as the result of the meetings held at Claudelamls by the South Auckland Trotting Clubs (amalgamated)," said Mr H. Windsor, president of the Waikato Trotting Club, at a meeting of the committee. Mr Windsor said that the season disclosed a profit of £2530, while the Waikato club itself had made a small net profit. During the season there had been five days and four matinee meetings. Two patriotic permits were made available at Easter owing to the Hawera Trotting Club abandoning its dates, and the meetings were held at- Claudelands. The outcome was a profit of £1163 for the Patriotic Fund after the payment of £-1731 in taxation. The amalgamated clubs distributed £10,210 in stakes, and the totalisator turnover amounted to £166,586. Taxation totalled £18,572. Patriotic purposes benefited to the extent of £ISOO from the matinee meetings that had been held. As the nominations did not exceed the number of vacancies, Messrs A. W. Ebbett, P. G. Harkness. A. R. Hinton, X. H. Hooker, A. S. Sutherland, M.P., and H. Windsor were re-elected to the committee of the Waikato Trotting Club. WAIKATO RACING CLUB FORMER OFFICERS RETURNED (0.C.) HAMILTON, Monday No ballot will bo necessary in connection with the election of officers of the Waikato Racing Club for the ensuing year, as the number of nominations equal the number of vacancies. The position of Mr O. M. Monckton. who is retiring on account of ill-health, will be filled by Mr E. C. Day. Officers elected are:—President, Mr F. R. Seddon; vice-president, Mr A. Miller: committee, Messrs H. D. Caro, W. T. C. Christie, P. G. Harkness. G. J. Peach, P. G. Vercor and E. C. Day. BALLOTING CRITICISED There lias been a good deal of adverse comment about the balloting for the Grand National Meeting, mainly by those owners and trainers whose horses had travelled long distances, says the Dominion. The opinion has been openly expressed that there should be some offer by the club toward expenses. Horses in the maiden class created problems for trainers. Some of them were not eligible for the race for their class on the first day of the Grand National Meeting and, after waiting two weeks from the Christchurch Hunt Meeting in anticipation of a race on the final day of the Grand National- Meeting, they were balloted out. There is a growing feeling among trainers that, with all its disadvantages, the division system is the fairest, for it assures horses of a start, even although the stake level is reduced. FRANKLIN CLUB'S YEAR A loss of £1864 on the year's working was revealed at the annual meeting of the Frank lin Racing Club By the payment of £SBOO all mortgages had been liquidated. Assets, including cash n War Loan investment and property, totalled £24,259. '1 he following officers were re-elected nn opposed: —President, Mr J. N. Massey. M.P.. vice-president. Mr A. F. Brown; committee Messrs T. Brown, N. M. Bradanovich. S. ,1 Clews. G. Carter, W. T. Dazoley. ,T Hall ,T. Reynolds, P. L. .Short, J. Mclntyre, I. A Motion. F. W. Stcnibridge and A. Jones TRIP CANCELLED The arrangements that were made to send Tweedsmuir to Australia under the care of J. T. Jamieson have been cancelled. Had they been adhered to Tweedsmuir would have been at Randwick by now. Jamieson himself is making a trip to Sydney in the near future and probably will be there for the spring meetings. TO CORRESPONDENTS J.K., Auckland.—lndian Sport finished second to Comrie in the Paknranga Hunt Cup in 1942. "General Burleigh," Edgecumbe.—General Burleigh did not start at the Te Aroha .Tockev Club's annual meeting on February 26. B,T„ Devonport.—Anglo French has started three times since ho won the Lincoln Steeplechase last year