FORBURY PARK TROTTING CLUB

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25456, 10 February 1944, Page 3

FORBURY PARK TROTTING CLUB

CUP MEETING POSTPONED At a special meeting of the committee of the Forbury Park Trotting Club yesterday afternoon it was decided, in view of the restrictions on railway travelling, to postpone the Cup meeting, which was to have been held on Saturday, February 26. and to apply to the Trotting Conference for Saturday, May 13, a week following the date of the winter meeting, as the substitute date. It was decided to draft a fresh programme for the Cup meeting. This is the second postponement of the Cup meeting. The president, Mr B. S. Irwin, who was in the chair, said it would be hopeless in the present circumstances to expect to be able to hold a successful meeting. He said he had no information about when the restrictions were likely to be lifted.

The secretary, Mr C. R. Caffin, said that he had sent two telegrams to the Minister of Railways, Mr R. Semple, but had not received a reply. He had got in touch with the Minister’s secretary, who stated that, although it was only a rough guess, there would be little chance of the restrictions being lifted before the second week in March, if then, as the position concerning the supply of coal was still serious. 'Mr D. H. Blackie said he had made inquiries, and he thought the restrictions on travelling would remain for some time. He suggested that the club should hold a two-day meeting in May. The chairman said that the club's winter meeting would be held on May 6, and they should seriously consider racing on the following Saturday. - The only difficulty he could see was that the Oamaru Jockey Club would race on that day, but he thought that Oamaru would be prepared to race a week later. Mr H. Halliday said that Canterbury trainers would welcome a two-day meeting in May, and he suggested that they should communicate with the Oamaru Jockey Club.

On Mr Halliday’s motion, it was decided to postpone the Cup meeting, to have been held on February 26. anjd to draw up a fresh programme, and also to apply for a meeting to be held on May 13. The secretary was also instructed to get in touch immediately with the Oamaru Jockey Club to explain the position that has arisen. Mr Halliday said that if any difficulty arose over racing on May 13 an application should be made to the War Cabinet to allow the club to hold a meeting on another week day.