WAIPA RACING CLUB

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 73, Issue 6284, 23 September 1946, Page 4

WAIPA RACING CLUB

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING A LARGE ATTENDANCE The Waipa Racing Club held its thirty-first annual meeting in the Borough Council Chambers on Friday evening, when a large attendance of members foregathered to participate in the proceedings. After the reading of the minutes of last annual general meeting, the president, Mr J. T. Young, asked all present to stand as a mark of respect to and sympathy with relatives of the late Messrs J. Walker and W. H. Bell, ' club members, who had died during the year. President’s Address In speaking to the annual report, the president told of the thought given by members during the war years to improving the steeplechase course, and when it was seen that the Club would regain its winter racing permit Mr L. R. Hodgson was approached with a view to acquiring part of his property to make better provision in the run to the double fence in the straight, and the speaker was pleased to say that Mr Hodgson had met the Club in every way possible, and thanks were due to that gentleman for the willing manner in which he had acceded to the request of the Club. A Big Worry One of the biggest problems racing and trotting clubs were faced with today, said Mr Young, was the question of vehicle-parking at race meeeings, and the Waipa Racing Club had had matters made more difficult by the occupation of some of its property by Air Force buildings. .Now, however, that those buildings were being vacated and removed it was hoped that some constructive policy would be put into operation. In referring to that portion of the Club’s property on which the foundation of the firedestroyed building still stood the president said that with alterations to the course the value of that particular portion as a parking area would be nullified to a certain extent.

Continuing, the speaker said it had always been a problem to get a satisfactory starting point for shorterdistance races on the course, and at the present time a plan was being worked out to try to put in a new mile starting barrier. The six, six-and-a-half, and seven furlongs starts were unsuitable to the large fields now racing, stipendiary stewards allowing, for obvious reasons, only a small number of starters at those barriers, and it was felt that the best solution would be to construct a new mile start which would take in part of the ground where the Air Force buildings were at present situated. Mr Young pointed out that the racecourse property was not vested in any certain section of the community, but actually did, to all intents and purposes, belong to the public. If at any time the Racing Club disbanded, the property would, in that case, come under the jurisdiction of the Borough Council on the Waipa County Council. If, therefore, secondary industries built on such a site as where the Air Force buildings were situated, it would mean that the Club would be boxed in for all time, and there would never be any possibility of making necessary and desirable improvements. The tracks The speaker expressed gratification at the good condition of the course proper and the training tracks. Visitors, interested in both galloping and trotting, had expressed surprise and pleasure at the good conditions existing at the local racecourse. Competent judges averred that that course had the best facilities in the Waikato, and, said Mr Young, with contemplated improvements effected , both galloping and trotting trainers should be exceptionally well catered for. Mr Young made special mention of the excellent work done by Messrs Kay, Weal, and Storey, in conjunction with Mr A. J. Jones, and the Club owed a debt of gratitude to those men for the money and worry they had saved the Club by their actions. The comfort of patrons was always a consideration of the executive, the president said, and as soon as materials were available every effort ought to be made to construct ample covered accommodation. In this connection the question of complimentary tickets was referred to by Mr Young, who pointed out that the issue of these had to be tempered with common sense. The Club had always given every consideration to visitors coming from afar, but in the past some persons had overdone their requests, and it was felt that, while it might not be desirable to completely discontinue the issue of such tickets, at the same time, in the interest of economical running of the Club”s meetings, some discretion should be used. New Admission Charges With the large attendances at race meetings, the executive decided, before the last race meeting, to discontinue the old system of two separate charges for admission and replace it with an overall admittance charge of five shillings. With the minor alterations which had been made it was found that on the day the attendance returns had improved, and also that the totalisator officials found their work made much easier with all the betting windows in continuity, instead of, as under x the old system, being divided between outside and lawn patrons. On Mr Young stating that Mr J. Fisher, of Auckland, would again donate a 50-guinea gold cup to be added to the stake of one of the at the forthcoming summer meeting, a spontaneous burst of applause greeted the very sporting action of that gentleman. Election of Officers After adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet, the election of officers was proceeded with, as follows: President, Mr J. T. Young (unopposed); vice-presidents, Messrs

M. McNair and M. H. Tims (unopposed) ; committee, Messrs L. R. Kay, W. G. Wallace, T. Grant, R. J. Weal, J. L. Macky Jnr., and S. S. Preston. Messrs Hammond, Date, and Pinfold, who had been appointed scrutineers by the meeting, were heartily thanked for their services. General Business During the discussion of general business several speakers eulogised the fine work being done by the present course caretaker under the supervision of Mr R. J. Weal, course superintendent, and members and trainers present stressed the harmony which prevailed at the course. To clarify any likely misunderstanding, Mr S. S. Preston gave a full account of the proceedings leading to the appointment of the new caretaker. In concluding his remarks he emphasised the necessity for rigid observance of the course rules and regulations, and said that he, for one, would not have anybody deliberately flouting the authority of either the caretaker or the course superintendent, and would, if it became necessary, be prepared to take extreme steps for the protection of the authority of both those gentlemen, who were responsible for the efficient running of the course. The happenings as quoted in an anonymous letter recently published in the Courier had taken place some time before the appointment of the new caretaker, said Mr Preston, and in giving the impression that they were of recent vintage the writer had not been fair to the parties concerned. It was a scurrilous and unjustifiable attack on a genuine and conscientious member of the Club’s staff, and entirely unwarranted.

With the conclusion of business, a social hour was spent, at which an appropriate toast list was honoured.