FOOTBALL AND DOG RACING

Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1927, Page 5

FOOTBALL AND DOG RACING

STRONG COMPETITION. GROUNDS BEING USED FOR DOGS (From Our Own Correspondent.) London, Sept. 22. Racing is concerned as to how to combat the competition of the dogs. So, too, is football, though the new sport does not really clash with the winter game. At the same time, however, the Football Association, realising what the position might become, considered it some time ago and took steps to deal with it. They knew that the grounds might readily be adapted to the dogs and they issued an order to the clubs under their control that they were not to allow tracks to be laid down on them. This caused, in some cases, a good deal of heart burning owing to the fact that a rich source of income was cut off. But strict as is the authority of the F.A. they are faced with a problem that they may not be able to deal with. The Chelsea ground at Stamford Bridge belongs to Mr. Joseph Mears, who is also oue of the leading directors of the club, and he has announced that as soon as football is over next May he intends to use the enclosure for dog racing. It is, of course, a magnificent site, being only a quarter of an hour's taxi ride froin the West End, and it has accommodation for over eighty thousand people. It is a curious position. As a director of the club Mr. Mears must observe the ban of the F.A., but as the owner of the ground he can put it to whatever purpose he likes. The football authorities have also another difficulty. When the Stadium was built they entered into a contract to utilise the enclosure for the cup final for ten years, and they were also guarantors to the Exhibition for the sum of £19,000. This they have had to pay. Recently the Stadium was sold to a greyhound racing syndicate for £150,000, and the latter have made plans to start operations at the New Year. They intend to carry out alterations, and these will mean the doing away with about 14,000 seats. Naturally, the F.A. object to this, and they have announced that unless the terms of their contract are fulfilled they will hold the fixture at some other ground. If they are compelled to do this they will naturally demand compensation. Meanwhile, greyhound raving is flourishing exceedingly, especially in London. In the provinces preparations, too, are being made to exploit the sport in all sorts of places. But there is still a doubt whether the present interest in the dogs will survive. Bookmakers who are in close touch with the tracks are themselves doubtful on this point. One of the chief layers declares that the public are losing their money too quickly, and as a result they are likely to get tired of the sport. For this he admits that the bookmakers are themselves largely to blame,lowing to the fact that they do not offer reasonable prices. The public have also been warned against investing their money in some of the companies which have been launched It is, of course, true that a fortune has been made at the White City. The shilling shares of this company are now worth £l2 each.