CORRESPONDENCE

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 73, Issue 6284, 18 September 1946, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE

OUR READERS’ VIEWPOINTS RACING CLUB Sir, —Some time ago the Waipa Racing Club advertised for a caretaker, it being understood at that time that the former caretaker had resigned because of some disagreement with one or two trainers. I understand a meeting was called on the course, but the caretaker was asked to stand by even after he had been asked tq attend and he had not a proper chance to t defend himself. But that is by the way. The club received about 230 applications, but it has been rumoured that some members of the committee made a special trip away to try and get yet another applicant who had not applied, to apply. In this they were unsuccessful so the committee then considered the applications. It has been said that the final selection was made after the number was reduced to four and some of these said afterwards that they were questioned as to their farming experience and in any case a sharemilker was appointed. As the position called for a course caretaker it is difficult to understand what farming experience had to do with it, for. it is known that several of the applicants had a long experience in the care of courses. However, having appointed a caretaker, the committee apparently found it necessary to engage a supervisor and there are now rumours that the dual positions are not operating smoothly. It has happened or. our course that a trainer is allowec to school a horse on an off morning—the schooling being done with a

horse from one particular stable- At a subsequent meeting of committee comparison seems to have been made with Marton (where only about a dozen horses are trained) and Te Awamutu (where about 60 horses are trained), to show the relative track conditions. Another comparison could be made that trouble occurred when one trainer’s dog followed him to the course one morning and a good deal Was said about it, despite the fact that another trainer’s dog was fairly regularly there without anything being said. On the face of things it seems that there are not the conditions existing which members of the club would desire and that more equal treatment in all circumstances could be observed. The committee could explain some of these things and members should note the annual meeting on Friday and make it a suitable occasion for explanations to be given. We have a very fine course land sy!ant to make ours one of the best clubs in New Zealand, but it requires the interest of the members; and it also requires fair rules and equal administration for all trainers and owners so that the club can be respected by all.—l am, etc., SPORTSMAN