FORBURY PARK TROTTING CLUB.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16546, 20 November 1915, Page 11

FORBURY PARK TROTTING CLUB.

- ... . SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the Forbury Park Trotting Club was held last evening, Mr Gabriel Hodges (president) presiding over a good attendance of members. The purpose of the meeting was to elect two members of committee in the place of Messrs C. H. Street and James Jelfs ; both of whom had tendered their resignations. The Chairman stated that Mr Street had retired from tho club because of his removal to Temuka, and Mr JefTe had resigned on acoount of ill-health—a reason they all regretted very much. Both gentlemen liad been varv careful and painstaking stowards, and they would be greatly missed by the club. Five members were nominated for tho two vacancies—namely, Messrs 11. T. Andrews, B. S. Irwin, J. Morrison, F. Rogen, and S. Sandes—and a great deal of interest was taken in the eJoction. The poll resulted in tho return of Messrs Irwin ivnd Andrews, the voting being as follows: —Mr Irwin 152, Mr Andrews 14-9, Mr Morrison 89, Mr Rogen 81, and Mr Sandes 65. The members elected returned thanks for the position in which they had been placed, while the unsuccessful candidates also thanked those who had voted for them. Mr R. Young asked whv the match that had been arranged between Country Belle, Our Thorpe, and Emmeline hod fallen through. He would also like to know if there would not_ be a ohamce at some future meeting of holding a free-for-all race, as he was suro it would provo' a popular event with tho public. The Chairman, replied that the club's programme originally provided. for eight races and a matoh against time. This was submitted to tho Trotting Association, along with tho conditions governing the special event, and was approved by it. At that time the club did not anticipate that three owners would be willing to put their horses up against cach other, but after the Christchurch meeting the owners of Country Belle, Our Thorpe, and Emmeline had expressed their willingness to run a race in Dunedm. When this had been placed before the Trotting Association it had replied by telegram as follows:—"If no money is added by the club the match oan be run under rule 96. but section 7 of *' Tho Gaming Act, 1910." prevents more than eight races being held on one day." That had upset the proposal altogether, as it could scarcely be expected that any private members would come forward with the prize of £250 for the match, and the club oould not open the totalieator on the, event. It had occurred to him—and ho would suggest it at the next meeting of the committee —that at their next race meeting they should arrange for seven races and a free-for-all over a mile and a-quartcr course for horses, that oould trot a mile in 2min lfteec or 2min 12seo. If that course were supported by the owners it would be a step in tho right direction, and would have a good result from every point of view.— ("Hear, hear.")