TAPANUI RACING CLUB,

Otago Witness, Volume 02, Issue 2420, 2 August 1900, Page 40

TAPANUI RACING CLUB,

Mr Qain, secretary and treasurer, -sends me a copy of the report and balance sheet prepared for presentation at the annual meeting of this progressive and well-managed club. The figures show that the balance as at July 1,-1899, was £437 4s lid, and at July 1, 1900, £379 11s. but the difference of £57 13s lid is more than accounted for by the £83 12s 8d spent on painting, starting gates, labour on permenent improvements, alterations to the etand, and new weighing-rooms, and the club has evidently lived well within its means during the year, whilst the profit and loss account shows assets to the value of £776 6s Id, and not a penny of liabilities. Bravo, Tapanui! The report reads thus: — -"In presenting the balance sheet of the club for the year 1899-1900, I have again to announce a profit pn the year's transactions. The meeting held in February last was in many xespects one of the best ever held on the course, and there was an increased attendance. Visitors from the south — Gore and Mataura especially — "were present in goodly numbers, and many of them promise to repeat their vi?its. The improvements commenced three years ago are now about completed, and the earth works on the flat, enlarging the horse paddock, are much appreciated; and ample accommodation is now provided, without hoi-Ees having to cross the course. The starting gates proved a great success. The new and commodious jockeys' room, enlarged luncheon room, etc., all add to the convenience? of the club. An ■enlarged totalisator wap put in this year : but it did not add to the receipts, and there was a falling off in this respect, the comparison being: 1899. £4-526; 1900. £3492; or a decrease of £103*, principally on the first day, when two frivolous protests locked up the investors' money, and spoiled the investments. The club is paying out £100 a year more in stakes than in 1898, and is in every Avay progressive as far as its means allow. .The entry money in 1900 was less than the previous year by £64-, but all other sources of revenue were about the same. Of course Tapanui being an fh no-license district, publicans cannot ply their trade, , and consequently there is praciically no revenue from the supply of refieshinents. The club adhere to their system of teeping off "bookmakers and spielers, and in every way endeavour to make the sport of horseracing creditable. The club has also recommended the Racing Conference to take steps to entirely suppress the spieler and tote bettor nuisance. The retiring officers and committee have no recommendation to make lor further improvements at present, as all

the buildings, etc., are in first-class order, and the outbuildings and fences have been painted this year. Some few chains of top-dressing, however, are required where- the. course is badly worn." The club continues to be annoyed by some evil-minded person or persons injuring their property, but hope ultimately to catch the offender."