CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3511, 28 June 1921, Page 39

CANTERBURY DOINGS.

Bv

Observer

The wot weather experienced during the past week has hail its effect on the training work, at Riccarton. The regular tracks have been very sloppy. Horses with engagements close at hand have got through useful task*; even when no grass track lias been available, but in the ease of those who will not ho required to race till the spring the trainers have been content with the easiest of tasks, some restricting their charges to walking exercise on the roads. There are not so many yearlings in local stab es as usual, ard il looks as il Riccartou may not be strong in the juvenile depaitment next season. In the meantime, with the track condtti- us unsuitable, most of tile yearlings are having a bit of a rest from serious tasks. F. I>. Jones has returned from the north with Crang Alfa . who performed disappointingly at Napier Park. He looked veil when he left ort his trip, hut it seeiua as if his wind troubles were going to prove a serious obstacle to success over long steeplechase courses. Manawapongx lias got. over the injuries he received wliiio racing at Wingatui, and hr seems to be quite sound again. He is getting through steady work, and he should be all right for the Grand National meeting. Bonny Mac is having a rest, which he had earned after a fi w months of hard racing. Hr- improved a lot under \Y. .MTJonald’s care, and he should he capable of further successes next ‘oason. M‘Donald is keeping Fiery Cross going, but it will tax him to get the Glenapp gelding fit, as in the past he has talon a lot of wotk to bring him to his host. Gamecock is bowling along freely in Ilia track work, and though ho is not being set any serious tasks at present, he should be in good fett’e for the hurdle races at Trent lia tn next month, with other important engagements to follow at the Grand National meeting. Battle fieene, who made such it favourable impression when she won a double at (lie Ashburton meeting last month, is in good order. She mav be a competitor in sprint events at Trenthnm. and she looks certain to prove ttsrfill next season. Mustard Pot lias not done great deal since he returned* from Auckland. He lightered up a bit on the trip, but otherwise be looks well, and bo shou'd pay his wav early next season. P. Y. Mason is not troubling the tracks very much with Ids team, but when trie weather improves lie v.il] he sending them along again. Plate, an unlucky performer this season, looks l.ke ! (ring a good threeye u'-o!d. According to present arrangements. Riven it n stables will he well represented at the Wellington winter meeting next month. A few jumpers and ’• good contngent of flat racers are booked for the trip. Great int-west is being taken in the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting, at which about 20 Canterburv horses are racing. ATi s-rs P. iSclig. If. W. Ixitehi nghatn. and J. M. Samson, the three retiring South Island members of the New Zealand Trottin o' Association, have been nominated again and with Messrs W J. At. Hopkins (an old member) and <’. E. Cross also in the field, an election will be necessary. There is ;riso a contest for the two North Island seats, as Mi- G. Rpriggins will oppose the retiring members. Messrs C. F. Mark and R. W. Short. Tt w as announced - 'ine time ago that the champion pacer Author Dillon had fir.’shed !i s racing career, and that he would take up stud duties in the spring. His owners hav- now changed their p-la ns, and P. .Tnrden has been in=truo(-p f ( f 0 prepare the ho.-o for another racing campaign next season. Another effort is to be made to train (he pacer Oinako. who has gone into .T. N. Clarke’s stable at New Brighton, to be prepared for the next New Zealand Trotting Cm,. Tt is stated ih if the two-vear-old pacing fib- Ma Ciis'ile. who i jived her-elf rather b.ail'v through rc-r mg up and falbng prior tc the start of the Sapling Stakes at Ashburton. may be some time before she is ready to race again The pacer Glenm ng. who Jins been turned out since he raced at Forbury Park' la«t month. is to he broilgilt in shortly, and lie will be jogged for some lime 1 fore being a‘k< d. In do any fust work. The champion t onin ' mare R.-ia Peter i- haring a spell but she y-'ll Ire op the scene again .shortlv in prepa i atiott for leg events mxi season. The rep,or*- t - be or -entod to mend ers of the Nor Zealand Mob-up la in Trotting Club nt the unniinl meeting M ties that from the amount? members will ob.-erve that the past season lets b' n the most succe l ful in the bastorv of rim chit. T’'e receipt- from "P sources easily cobn t -1 th of .am other se-is-"'p. thp fimtneid >• -pit he’ng the best vet .'n-lueved dispue tb* f-u-1 tint the Sion of £fi4.ooo a. i enti ig au m< f I l ' l ofo over 1 ; 1 cv'i-m? season— was de---ti '-ui • 1 in st do’s During the veer tho o’ ib snsfajned a 10-s ip th- 1 --’rii of Its treasurer, the lit. Air J S. VT t who was long ttssoel >te v, th t •• 41 ' *. dating Kid; to the niiddie on-liti -■ TT e was an , • 'i"in d ib of the - 1 Canterburv Tl'ottb Club est 'Mish, d iu ’0«-. and was one of the fp-v 'din " rr* out at the fl'-.st me-t'ng eelli d ■ , b ’ D--, Ne" Zealand Trolling \ ? c oe* 1 ■ a in 4 po f. TT,. was president of that body in 1891, when the

Government decided to recognise tlie association by giving it authority to pass all programmes before licenses for the totaiisator were granted to clubs. The principle established at that period stands good to-day. During the season the sum of £28,612 3s 2d was paid to the Government by way of taxes, also the sum of £2813 paid for the first time by way of income tax —a charge which wi'l he an annually recurring one. No other nomination than that of the Hon. C, Louissun having been received for the pos.tton oi president, there wilt be no election. No other nomination than that of Mr J 11. Williams having been received for tlie position of vice-president, there will be no election. No other nomination than that o' Mr F. K. Graham having been received for tiie position of treasurer, there will be no election. dhe number of nominations for stewards, not being in excess, there will be no election. Five nominations were received tor three vacancies on the committee. Since the closing of nominations two candidates have withdrawn their names, and the three retiring committeemen are therefore duly elected. The balance sheet shows that the receipts for the year, including a balance of £lßl 5s 7cl brought forward, wera £90,591 13s Id, tlie cnief items being totaiisator £53,460 Is 3d, totaiisator dividends £13.052 8s 6d, gates £'11,432 165,, nominations and acceptances £5997 10s, cards £3276 10s 9d, privileges £1042 Bs, members’ subscriptions and entrance fees £585 ss, rents £Bc6 9s 4d, interest on Government stuck £202 10s. The expenditure included stakes £05,660 t taxes (Government tax £14,925 18s 2d, dividends £13,002 bs 6d. stakes £340, amusements £632 16s lid), £28,952 3s 7u, land and income ta £2951 2s 9d, ground expenses £2802 13s, land purchase £I2OO, buildings £SOO. A sum of £BBBS was invested in Government war bonds and inscribed stock, and the year closed with a credit of £3625 4s 7d. The assets of tho olub, after being written down, are valued at £73,856 2s 6d, in addition to the cash balance and Government securities. The following report will be presented to members of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club at the annual meeting:—ln plaoing before members the annual returns your committee lias to report that the prosperity of the club has continued, and the attendance at our meetings during the year lias constituted a record. The sport provided has been of a high class, and the programmes submitted have been the means of drawing tlie very best of the dominion’s horses in competition. During the year tho club sustained a loss through the death of its president, the ’ate Mr C. S. Howell. The late president was one of the founders of the club in 1891, and was president of the club up to the time of liis decease, with the exception of an interval of three years. He was always in the forefront in anything appertaining to the advancements trotting. Tlie late Mr Howell was associated with the Xew Zealand Trotting Association in its early years. He was the convener, and also chairman, of the first New Zealand Trotting Conference, and acted in that capacity for several years. The Government having now- released the laws relating to tiie erection of buildings, your committee proposes to immediately start the necessary improvements in connection with providing additional stand accommodation and general lay-out of the club’s property. Ihe taxes paid to the Government during the season amounted to £9428 7s od. The nominations received for the various offices not being in excess of the number' required, there will be no election. The balance sheet states that tiie receipts, including £5714 9s 2d carried forward from the previous year, were £33.930 lOs 2d, the principal items being totaiisator £16,452 9s 6d. totaiisator d'v.dends £4258 18s 6d, gates £3770 4s. nominations and acceptances £2123. cards £1092 2s, and privileges £361 9s 6d. The expenditure included stakes £10,093 13s Id. taxes (Government tax £4871 9s lOd, dividends £4258 18s 6d, stakes £lOl 19s. and amusements £196 Os 2d—£9428 7s 6d). Tlie club placed £2OOO on fixed deposit at the bank, and closed the year with a credit of £9095 2s lOd. Tiie assets are shown at £28.526 11s 7d, including cash balance of £13.491 11s 10(1. freehold property £6064 19s 9d, buildings, plant, and furniture (less depreciation) £6970. The report to be presented at the annual meeting of the New Brighton Trotting Club next month states that the club has had a record year. Its prosperity has been particularly well maintained, and the financial result, lias been the best it has yet experienccd. As a result, the committee was enabled to carry out numerous improvements on the course, including a complete alteration to the entrance gates, additional seating accommodation, and widening the straight considerably, thus giving spectators a commanding view of the racing along the straight. A contract has been let, and the work is now in hand, of levelling the jnS’de of the course and removing the large sandhill at the back. This, when completed, will give a clear view to every part, of the course. Hie year just closed was a record one for attendances, totaiisator returns, _ nomin ations, acceptances, and increase in the stakes given. During the year a sum of £7482 12s 4d was paid to the Government by way of taxes. The balance sheet shows that the receipts for the year including a credit of £1154 0s 3d brought, forward, were £23,388 8s 6d, the chief items being totaiisator £13,237 Is 3d. tob>lisator dividends £3407 4 s 6d. gates £2445 2s, nominations and acceptances £1770 (Os. cards £827 13s 6d. and privileges £290. The principal items of expenditure were stakes £8024. Government taxes £7432 12s 4d. ground ex-r.enses £1547 9=. buildings £SCO. A sum of £ISOO was placed on fixed deposit, and the voir closed with a credit of £1832 10s 3d. Tli l assets are stated at £16,165 10s 3d. made up of buildings £10,500, land £2123. cwdi in bank £1832 10s 3d. fixed deposit £ISOO. and plant £2OO, while the liabilities amount to £1594.