RACING PERMITS

Waipa Post, Volume 31, Issue 1766, 5 June 1926, Page 5

RACING PERMITS

WAIPA CLUB’S PROSPECTS.

TAUMARUNUI GIVEN PREFERENCE.

Most sportsmen in this district know that the Waipa Racing Club is desirous of obtaining an additional totalisator permit Avith a vieAv to holding a second race meeting. It is fairly clear that there is no prospect of a second permit being available for Waipa in the present racing season, which ends on July 31st, but it is interesting to knoAV that the club is “M the running” for an extra permit at a later date. It appears that tAVO of the clubs that Avere granted neAv permits in the distribution made nearly lavo years ago are not prepared to use them —at least, for some time to come, and the permits have been loaned to other clubs. The tAvo clubs referred to are Waimarino and Motueka. During the season noAv closing these permits Avere loaned to Stratford and Nelson clubs, and, used. The Waipa Club Avants one ! of them for the 1926-'27 racing term, and duly made application, but there are other claimants. HoAvever, the Auckland District Committee recommended that, if there is any distribution for the coming year, Taumarunui should have Waimarino’s and Waipa should have first refusal of Motueka’s. Representations w*ere, Ave believe, made on this basis to the Racing Conference, and approved, with j the proviso that if only one permit is ! available it should go to Taumarunui. ! The latter club is, admittedly, in financial straits OAving to the bad Aveather experienced at annual race meetings, and perhaps it is Avith a view to helping Taumarunui over the financial ob'Stacle that this proviso is added. But, experience shoAVg that an additional totalisator permit is something in the nature of a “white elephant” Avith some clubs, if Aveather and other circumstances are not entirely favourable. and it is argued that Taumarunui will almost certainly find any additional permit for a single clay's racing just such an encumbrance. Waipa Club AAmuld, Ave contend be in a much more favoured position to conduct such a meeting, for within a radius of tAventv-five miles of here there are enough horses in training at any season of the year to ensure success, so far as competing horses go. That the public would attend there seems little doubt, judging by past experience. It may, therefore, happen that Taumarunui Avill decline any additional permit offered it as a temporary loan, and Avait in the hope that it will one d,ay receive a permanent allocation. There are some racing men in this district Avho are not at all convinced that the local club receives fair treatment from its representatives at headquarters, but on that score we have no opinion to advance at present. Actions speak louder than words. Meantime Ave may publish the following list of clubs that, have applied for additional permits for next season:—(Bay of Islands R.C.. Franklin, NgaruaAvahia (two davs), Opitiki. Taumarunui. Waipa, Whangarei, Nelson, Kumara, Westland, Tolaga Bay, Otautau. Opunake, Stratford (two days), Taranaki, Foxton and Waver ley.