REDUCING RACING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 107, 28 June 1911, Page 5

REDUCING RACING.

(Per Press Association.) Christchurch, June 28. Regarding the report of the Racing Commission, Air. (J. Hood Williams, president of the Christchurch Club, and representative of several country clubs on the Racing Conference, stated in an interview that he held no brief either for the metropolitan or country clubs, and the solo object of his remarks to follow was that in his own opinion it was not in the best interests of racing that the Racing Commission, in dealing with the subject of reducing the number of days oi racing, appear to have paid too much attention to the subject of re-’ ducing the number of clays of country clubs and too little to hue possibility of giving fewer days to the metropolitan clubs. ‘•Everyone wifi, of course, admit," ho continued, “tnat the metropolitan cJudis have done yeoman sendee in conducting their affairs in such a manner that they have been enabled to give stakes which not only encourage breeders of thoroughbreds, but also afford attraction and support of the general public, and also enable powerful owners to win money to assist to maintain their Jarge racing establs.'hraents. On the otner hand, there are owners and trainers possibly not so wealthy who' own or train two or tiiioj horses, not first-class and not equal to successfully co.npe',-3with the before-mentioned large racing establishments, and hence cuosc owners i'-ni: to some extent to tne country race clubs to provide tiiem with stakes which will enable them to successfully conduct their calling. It must be admitted that local owners cf not first-class racehorses have not a Buckley’s chance cf winning a race at metropolitan meetings, where the pick of horses of the Dominion are gathered together, attracted by rich stakes which the principal metropolitan clubs are enabled to orfer. Quoting from a return of stakes paid by the eight metropolitan clubs of Auckland, Canterbury, Wellington, Hawke’s Bay, Dunedin, Taranaki, 1 Wanganui, and Greymouth, it will be found that they paid in stakes during the "racing year 191 U the largo sum of £107,700, but country clubs paid stakes during the same period amounting to £10i,128, and trotting clubs paid £41,627. The total for country racing clubs and trotting clubs was £142,7/5, and these figures entitle the latter clubs to a more equitable adjustment both in regard to their totafisator permits and in referenco to the country clubs, having better representation upon the Racing Commission.’ ’ Alter referring to the recommendations of the Commission as to the days of racing, and pointing out the difference between the number allotted the metropolitan and to country clubs, ho said: "This appears to me not to be a fair proportion, and I may ho allowed to express the opinion that it would have been a wiser policy had the Racing Commission more fully considered the claims of clubs, more especially those which held only one day’s, racing during the year.' This certainly Could have been done by further reducing the number of racing days of the metropolitan clubs, and of the country racing clubs which are at present recommended for three days for the year’s racing. The reason furnished by the Racing Commission for not recommending the Christchurch Racing Club for a totalisator permit—namely. ‘contiguity two miles from'the Riecarfcon course,’ is not, in my opinion, a sound one, as the Christchurch Racing Club catered for a class of horses which as a rule were not equal to successfully compete at meetings of the C.J.C., where horses came from all parts of New Zealand to fulfil their engagements.”

RANGITIKEI RACING CLUB,

Wellington, June 27. A deputation from the Rangitikei Racing Club waited on Mr. Buddo today to protest against the decision of the Racing Commission, which means the extinction of the club. The club was established in 1,855, and a few years ago expended £BOOO on the purchase of land and improvements. It had an overdraft of £3OOO, for which two gentlemen were guarantors. The deputation urged that it was obviously gross injustice to abolish this club, and at the same time recommend the creation of two new clubs. It asked that the club should at least be given an opportunity of reducing its liability, and suggested that next year the races of Marion Club should be run at Bulls, the proceeds to go to the Rangitikei Club. Mr. Buddo said ho had considerable difficulty in commenting on the commission’s report, as it had again gone before the Crown law advisers to see if it was in conformity with the AcL, Ho thought lie would have to follow the recommendations of the commissionl, as the Act was practically map* datory. hut lie would obtain advice to sos if lie could impose any conditions.