SELF HELP.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 300, 18 December 1931, Page 12

SELF HELP.

How Racing Looks after its Own Folk. VICTORIAN SYSTEM. Annually at the Moonee Valley (Melbourne) racecourse in December, a race meeting is held in aid of the Victoria Racing Club Benevolent Fund. The 1931 fixture, which took place successfully on December 5, draws attention to the fact that the V.R.C., in addition to being responsible for the conduct of racing throughout the State, administers at a small cost two funds which for years have proved a boon to many sections of the racing community. They are the Benevolent Fund and the V.R.C. Accident Insurance Fund. These separate funds have different missions. The Benevolent Fund was instituted by the V.R.C. in 1914 for the relief or maintenance of persons in indigent circumstances who have been trainers, jockeys, riders or employees in racing stables, or dependants of such persons. All claims for relief under this fund are considered on their merits, and in the first year of its existence the sum of £l2B was distributed, but by last year the payments had increased to £4223. From 1915 to 1930 nearly £30,000 had been paid out of the Benevolent Fund. Typical of its good work may be cited the case of the three orphan children of a jockey. They were maintained, educated, and taught trades. Two oldtime racing cronies live happily together on a joint allowance of £3 a week. Claims are still increasing. Last year 84 persons received help from the fund, but possibly many more than that number received assistance, as some of the recipients of payments have dependants. Valuable Work Done. The V.R.C. was approved by the Government as an insurer for the purposes of the Workers’ Compensation Act in Victoria, and since its inauguration in 1920 the V.R.C. Accident Insurance Fund has done incalculable good. Before it was established the lot of injured jockeys, apprentices, stable hands or persons otherwise engaged in - racing was far from satisfactory. Today, however, under the judicious management of the V.R.C., conditions have very appreciably altered. In the case of a fatal accident to a jockey or other person governed by the rules of this fund, £6BO is payable to his dependants. This money is immediately paid into court and is allocated as thought fit by a judge. Another important part of the administration of the accident fund is the allocation of weekly payments to incapacitated persons. These are arranged on a very liberal scale. The minimum payment for a single man is £2, and that amount is often increased if he has dependants. Married men never receive less than £3. Cheaply Run. The ramifications of the fund have grown considerably since 1920, and yet the only charge levied against it by the V.R.C. for its administration is the salary of one official and very small incidental expenses. The fund is contributed to by owners, trainers and owner-trainers, and considering the extent of the benefits, the annual premiums are very low. Every owner has to pay £1 for each horse he races, while metropolitan trainers have to pay £4 a year, country trainers £2, and owner-trainers £2. In addition, all fines imposed on registered racecourses in Victoria are paid to the credit of the accident fund. The amounts paid by trainers entitle, compensation for accidents incurred by their employees in pursuance of their calling, and the premiums are but a tithe of the sums previously paid to insurance companies for similar benefits. WANGANUI STAKES DOWN. (Special to the “ Star.”) WANGANUI, December 18. The programme for the autumn meeting of the Wanganui Jockey Club has made its appearance, and provides for the distribution of £IB4O for the two days—February 18 and 20. There will be seven events each day instead of eight as in former years. The weight-for-age event, the Jackson Stakes, will be worth £4OO instead of £SOO, and the chief handicap race each day will carry a stake of £2OO, compared with £325 last year. The list of events is as under:— First Day.—Westmere Hurdles, of £IOO, one mile four furlongs and a quarter; Maiden Race, of £SO, six furlongs; Juvenile Handicap, of £BO, five furlongs; Earle Stakes, £2OO, one mile and a quarter; Victory Hack Handicap, of £9O, one mile and 110 yards; Petre Hack Handicap, of £BO, six furlongs; Flying Handicap, of £l3O, six furlongs. Second Day.—Fordell Handicap Hurdles, of £IOO, one mile four furlongs and a quarter; Jackson Stakes, of £4OO, six furlongs; Autumn Handicap, of £2OO, one mile and a quarter; Matarawa Hack Handicap, of £9O, six furlongs; Farewell Handicap, of £l3O, seven furlongs. Though the drop in stake-money is considerable, this was fully expected. Nominations will close on January 29. TROTTING CUP. Best Times and Handicaps of Auckland Acceptors. The following; table shows the best placed performances of the candidates for the Auckland Cup and their handicaps in the event: —

Genuine Golden Pedro . . Gold Treasure Best Time. . 4.27 4-5 . 4.32 4-5 . 4.32 4-5 Handicap. 4.30 1:38 jSSSSf -lebro": • fill }.1.° 4.30 Royal Silk . 4.25 1-5 4.30 Stanmoor .... Torpedo Huon : IPil i.l°o MaCh .‘ n f... Pluto Reremai Florent The Abbey Mountain Dell Machine Gun 4.29 : ills:! :■ i!h:l . 4.24 2-5 . 4.24 1-5 . 4.18 4-5 1:1 Jewel Pointer Gold Jacket Wrackler Peter Bingen ill