PROPRIETARY RACING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 280, 25 November 1937, Page 4

PROPRIETARY RACING

SYDNEY’S CLOG STATE GOVERNMENT ACTING SYDNEY, Nov. 15. The outstanding racing news of the moment in Sydney is the proposal by the New South Wales State Government to eliminate proprietary racing. The agitation for this has ebbed and flowed for several years, but hope had almost been abandoned and with it any chance of a real rehabilitation of. racing in New South Wales. While those closely interested in the proprietary courses in Sydney have raised the cry of poverty for years and a plea that they could not pay even a microscopic dividend, they have resented any move to take over their courses and place them on a non-proprietary basis. Enormous Capital It is agreed by all disimeresleu people that there is no hope for racing in Sydney so long as shareholders have to be considered on all courses except Randwick and Warwick Farm. The proprietary clubs have enormous capital and in some cases their assets are only tumble-down buildings on Government leaseholds. For instance, the Kensington Club’s lease recently expired and has been renewed until November, 1942. The appointments are modest in the extreme. As to the subscribed capital of many of these clubs, the original stock has been watered to such a degree that it is difficult to know just how the original shareholders stand. It is certain that they are receiving a very handsome return. Following is the list of proprietary clubs, excluding Kensington:— Rosehill.—Capital £165,000, net profit for 1936 £8292. Moorefield.—£l3s,ooo, £8906. Canterbury Park.—£94,soo, £3944. Victoria Park.—£242,739, £6660. Rosebery.—£l4o,ooo, £4943. Ascot.—l2BB,o2l, £8331. Thus on these figures, taken from the clubs’ own returns, the sum of £41,076 was lost to racing, and it is safe to say a good deal more would have been paid away in stakes under non-proprietary control. Plan of Procedure The Government has not shown its hand as to how it will handle the change, that is, if it comes about, for the proprietary interests are working hard in opposition and, despite their alleged poverty, will leave nothing undone to prevent the passage or legislation that they consider adverse to their interests. Possibly the Melbourne plan will be adopted. Ten years ago the Victorian State Government made a very necessary overhaul of all racing. Some courses were closed and the others made non-proprietary. Shareholders are still being paid out by a series of compensation meetings on the various existing courses and these are likely to go on for some time. Valuations were agreed on and all repayment machinery arranged by a board appointed by the Government. The New South Wales Government thus has ready-made machinery for the change-over. Generally it is believed that, while the abolition of proprietary racing is the first and very necessary step to get racing back to its proper standing in Sydney, there are other factors. The two most important in addition are the reduction of Government taxation, and an easing of adverse criticism by a section of the Press and by wireless broadcasts. A visit to Sydney cannot be blamed if he believed that racing in New South Wales was more corrupt an anywhere else in the world.

BEAU PERE’S STOCK WINNINGS IN DOMINION OUTSTANDING JUVENILES. Not for many years has one sire .lominateil the two-year-old situation on the New Zealand turt as has Beau Pere this svson, the only comparison possible being with Absurd nearly 20 years ago. Progeny ot Beau Pere have contested 15 races and, prior to Arvakur’s defeat at Te Rapa last Saturday, they had won 12 in a row. They have been placed in the last 14. Besides the dozen wins they have gained seven seconds and one third, the total value o£ stakes earned being £3375. The Beau Peres swept, the pool at Trentham and followed that up with a record of 100 per cent, at Riccarton, where Beau Fere juveniles scored in the races which they contested. The individual records o£ the two-year-olds are:— Amigo.—Won Juvenile Handicap, Marton, £7O; won Kantane Handicap, Wellington, £280; won Rosenealh Handicap, £280; total, £630. Arvakur.—Second Avondale Stakes, £5O; won Musket Stakes, Ellerslie, £300; second Tawhero Stakes, Te Rapa, £4O, total £390. Beau Partir.—Second Juvenile Handicap, Napier, £l5. Gay Son.—Won Nursery Stakes, Masterion, £5O; won Wellesley Stakes, Wellington, £420; second Welcome Stakes, Riccarton, £150; total, £620. Ivar. —Won Juvenile Handicap, Napier, £75. Peerless.—Second Nursery Handicap, Masterton, £10; second Karitane Handicap, Wellington, £80; won Welcome Stakes, Riccarton, £525; second Nursery Handicap, £7O; won Pioneer Handicap, £350; total, £1035. Sudan.—Won Nursery Handicap, Has lings, £BO. Taurangi.—Won Taita Handicap, Wellington, £210; third Welcome Stakes, Riccarton, £75; won Spring Nursery Handicap, £245; total, £530. In addition, The Squire (Beau Pere —Helen) has won in Australia. The fact that Beau Pere has stock racing successfully in England and Australia as well as in New Zealand will promote wide interest in this sire. The three-year-old filly Belle Parvenue recently scored for the second time over a distance in England. In September she won at two miles at Ripon and again over the same distance at Thirsk last month. This was in the Newby Plate, in which she carried 9.2. Odds were laid on her and she won going away by three lengths. Her dam is New Money, by Silvern, and she is owned by a Newmarket veterinarian, Mr. Braylev Reynolds.