STRATFORD RACING CLUB

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 17, 15 August 1928, Page 3

STRATFORD RACING CLUB

) ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of members of th 0 Str-tford Racing Club was held last night, Mr S. Pitt, president, being in the chair. ANNUAL REPORT. The president moved the adopflmi of the annual report, a digest of which has already been published in the "Post," and the balance-sheet. He said it was a decided pleasure to him to be able to present such a good balance-sheet, and to be able to record the holding of such a successful racri meeting as that held this year. The profit on the race meeting account was over £3OOO, and the profit on the year was £2059. He doubted if any similar club in New Zealand could produce such a record. The good result had not been obtained by a policy of stint. The amount allotted for stakes had enabled the club to pre-

sent a good programme of racing and a good class of horse had been attracted. The work on the track was now regarded as one of the best country ones in the North Island. It had bee n greatly appreciated by visiting owners and trainers at the last race meeting. The gate takings were over the average. 'The totalisator investments showd a good increase, and this gave a good idea of the popularity of a fixture. It also showed "that a good class of horse wa s competing. The shifting of the ladies' tote window had been much appreciated and he thought it. would always remain where it now was.

THE GOLD CUP. The Club had continued the idea of presenting a gold cup With the Stratford Cup, and all must be pleased to know that the cup was remaining in the district. Th c idea seemed very popular. Thc next cup would be indented from England, and, no doubt, would be very handsome. He would like to see an increase in the stakes instead of I a decrease for the next meeting. I Horse-owners had a lot of expenses j to meet, and, no doubt, would go 'to ths meeting offering the best | Slakes. The stake a should oe increased according to the means of the club. His thanks were due to all officials for the excellent man " ner in which the last meeting was run. The course was now practically safe from accident, which wa s a great feature in running a successful meeting. Thanks were also due to the secretary (Mr W. Power) and his staff. Their job was done in a workmanlike manner and reflected thc greatest credit on t hem. The Farm Committee (Messrs Stewart and Smith) showed a profit of £3BB on the year's wonting, and members' thanks were due to them for the time they had devoted to their duties. The future prospects of the club and the district were, bright. The price of butter-fat was good, and he felt sur e the coming meeting would be as good as the last. The appointments on the course were kept up to standard, renewals being carried out on anything found to be deteriorating.

Mr Pitt concluded by expressing thanks to the officials and committee for the support extended to Turn in Ch e past year. POPULAR RACING DAYS. Mr H. E. Abraham seconded the motion. He said that when such a good balance-sheet was presented f'ery little comment wa s called for. The success of the race meeting, no doubt, was due to the fact that racing was held on two of the most popular days. The meeting drew people from all over Taranaki, and, given good weather, its success was assured.

OUT OF REVENUE. Mr A. Coleman, treasurer, said

that during the past year th e club, had been able to spend about £IOOO out of revenue on work on the course. About £7oo'had been spent on loos e boxes, which were very much appreciated by owners and trainers. A sum of £2OO had also ceen spent on the course itself, so that half of the year's profits had been spent on permanent improvements. It was very gratifying to the committee to be able to do .so and not to trench on capital. He was net authorised to speak for the committee, but be believed they would continue the policy of doing as much as possible out of revenue i n the way of improving the property. Good ' management 'and gocd racing day s accounted for the success of the club. ■ The Club had' bad to write off very little in the way of bad debts and the entries bad Increased each year. That showed that the meeting was popular with the public. He hoped the stakes would Be increased by a reasonalbe amount for the coming .year. PROGRESSIVE POLICY. Mr D. J. Malone said it was pleasant to note the rapid progress of the club during the past few years, and he was glad to hear .he president say that the club would continue to be run on the same pro-

gressive lines. A number of dubs had found it necessary to leeroa.se their stakes, but this was not lie case with the Stratford club, 'ind he sincerely hoped they would be «Me to increase the stakes. In a ; ist of 82 clubs the Stratford Racmg Club was ninth on the" list y s "•> gards totalisator turnover, and twelfth as regards stakes sjken, which was a fine record for a country club. I Speaking a s a non-member of the I committee, Mr J. B. Richards expressed the hope that the keen attention to the business of the -club would continue to be shown. Members should remember that it was not so many years since the affairs of the club showed a loss.' ExI penditurc should be carefully scru- ! tinised before it was authorised, but i he was not averse to the proposal to increase the stakes, recognising that the club must provide good racing. He congratulated the. president and the committee on the excellent balance-sheet presented. The motion for the adoption of the report and balance-sheet was carried. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. There being only the necessary nominations for the elective positions the following were declared

I elected: President, Mr S. Pitt; viceI president, Mr H. E. Abraham; memi bers of committee, Messrs H. M. ! Good and A. Stewart. Returning thanks, Mr Pitt said the committee had done the very best' possible for members. Without good work on their part such good results could not have been obtained. The work during the year had been a pleasure to him. Mr Abraham said he could not devote the' tune he would like to the affairs of the club. The club was lucky to have such a chai/man a s Mr Pitt. He was not tied down to business as other members were,

aud it seemed that he devoted the whole of bis leisure time to the affairs of the club. Messrs Good and Stewart also recurned thankg for election. NEW MEMBER. Mr J. B. Cresswell was elected a member of the club. DONATION TO A. AND P. A douatiojj of seven guineas was voted to the A. and P. Association. THANKS. ' Votes of thanks Aver e /passed to the press of Taranakl, to the dele" pates of the Country Clubs, Racing 1 Conference, to the -Fa'Tin Committee, ,tb the delegates-to the District Committee (Messrs-' ' Pitt and Malone); and to the outgoing committee. MEMBERS' PRIVILEGES. ■ It was decided" that the privileges extended to members be the same as last year. it! AUDITOR. Mr TV H. Peun was re-appointed auditor. CATERING. Mr W. MacDonald voiced a complaint about the catering. He. thought the committee shou'ld see

that a more appetising luncheon was provided. He would mov e that the committee consider the matter. Mr Richards seconded. He said i. he knew the great difficulty in catering, but thought some improvement might be made. Mr Fredric, as a member of the Catering Committee, referred to the difficulties of the caterers, who fouad it hard to provide staffs at holiday time. The chairman said that last year the caterer was slipped up by tea of his staff. O n e of the difficulties was the big attendance—it was a metropolitan attendance on a country course. The motion was carried. Timia—a—nam>