DUNEDIN JOCKEY CLUB

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25309, 20 August 1943, Page 2

DUNEDIN JOCKEY CLUB

ANNUAL MEETING The annual meeting of the Dunedin Jockey Club was held last night. The vice-president (Mr L., C. Hazlett) occupied the chair, and there was a good attendance of members. Chairman’s Address Moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet, the chairman said that the committee had again to report a successful year in many ways, although it had been a somewhat strenuous one, as their course was in occupation, and this was a handicap when their race meetings were being held. They had a promise that the course would be put into the same condition as it was previously. The racing and training tracks were all in good order, and the plough and subsidiary tracks could not be in better condition. He did not think that there were any better in New Zealand. Mr Hazlett said he thought that the successes of horses trained in Otago and Southland during the past year were worthy of mention, and he referred to the wins of Lord Nuffield, The Joker, Anglo-French, Bashful Lady, and Royal Lancer. These horses were good enough to race anywhere, and he would say that The Joker and Royal Lancer were, next to Kindergarten, the best distance horses in New Zealand, He did not think that Otago and Southland-trained- horses had ever made such a good showing as they had this year, and they owed something to Southland for the horses it supplied for their meetings. The club had been granted five race days for the season, as compared with six in the previous season, and £12,500 had been given in %takes for the five days, as against £10,540 tor the six days. Taxation had increased on the previous year, and it now stood at £22,526. Other Items in the balance sheet were referred to by the speaker, who concluded by expressing appreciation of the assistance given the club by the Railways Department at Dunedin, Mosgiel,, and Wingatui. Mr F. E. Tyson seconded the motion. Suggestions by Members Mr H. Reid raised the question of members of ’ the club being granted free . admission to the Hunt Club meetings. This club, he understood, paid about £250 for the use of the Dunedin Jockey Club's course. With the reduced number of race days now allotted to the Dunedin Jockey Club a racegoer who was not a member of the club actually got his racing cheaper than did a member. The chairman explained the method of payment by the Hunt Club for the use of the course, and said that the committee would consider the point raised by Mr Reid. Mr R. D. Halstead said that he would like to compliment the stewards on the clean' racing at Wingatui over the past season. The motion was carried. Mr Tyson remarked that he favoured the club having the one enclosure at all future race meetings. * At the present time they were forced to adopt the oneenclosure system. The Financial Aspect Mr A. N. Smith, the honorary treasurer, said that there was a profit of £6159 2s 4d on (he year's operations, out of which £1557 18s lOd had been paid for additional land for the new six-furlong track. The club had £IOOO invested in the War Loan, and the buildings, less depreciation £I3OO 13s 6d. were valued at £23,617 13s lid. Mr Smith said that since the club had taken over the control of the totalisator there had been a substantial reduction in the working costs. Election of Office-bearers Mr A. C. Hanlon was re-elected president without opposition and Mr L. C. Hazlett vice-president without opposition. There were five nominations for four vacancies on the committee and the ballot resulted as follows: F E Tyson 272. A, Clark 253, R. W. Wilson 230, A. P. Greenfield 195 (elected). D, H. Blackie 166.