FINE GESTURE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 179, 1 August 1940, Page 9

FINE GESTURE

Jockey Club Members’ Appreciation MANAWATU CLUB’S OFFER ANNUAL MEETING HELD Paying a tribute to the generous treatment the Wanganui Jocxey Club had received from the Manawatu Racing Club and the Wellington Racing Club, the president-eiect, Mr. Russell Grace, stauXi at the annual meeting last night that members were indebted to these two clubs for offers to stage the club’s spring meeting on September 5 and 7. The Wellington Racing Club was prepared to run the meeting on behalf of the Wanganui Jockey Club and hand over the full profits, a gesture which merited the unqualified appreciation of members The meeting was attended by about fifteen members in addition to the majority of the committee, and Mr. Russell Grace was in the chair, in the unavoidable absence of the retiring president, Mr. H. M. Speed, who for warded a letter of apology, togetnei with an appreciation of the manner in which the committee and staff had supported him during his term ot oliice as president. Reviewing the balance-sheet, th« retiring honorary treasurer, Mr. G. C. Glenn, stressed the fact that one of the endeavours of the club had been to maintain the stakes, and last year £9870 had been distributed in this manner, in spite of the fact that the year's operations emailed a loss oi £3947 4s sa. Depreciation to the extent of £744 14s had been written off, and totalisator taxation accounted for £B2Bl, in addition to which income tax and social security payments took £l3l 5s Id, whereas this required only £9 18s 6d last year. In several directions savings had been made in expenditure. On the revenue side the “gates ’ showed a decrease from £2936 8s 6d tu £1695 19s 3d, this accounting for nearly £l3OO of the loss for the season. The annual report and balancesheet were unanimously adopted latter brief discussion. The election of officers resulted as follows:—Patron, Mr. A. Cameron, president, Mr. Russell Grace; vicepresident, Mr. G. C. Glenn, honorary timekeeper, Mr. T. Currie; hon. surgeons, Drs. J. W. Anderson, H. Christie, H. D. Robertson and D. Wilson; committee, Messrs. R. Mitchell, P. A. O'Neill, R. Russell, and F. K. Turnbull; hon. treasurer, Mr. A. Macnao; auditor, Mr. C. S. Swan. Returning thanks on his election as president, Mr. Russell Grace said there appeared to be a long and difficult road ahead for the ciuu, but he reft that such an outlook made it all the more interesting, and with the cooperation of the committee and members he felt sure that they could view the future with a certain degree of optimism. On being elected to the position of honorary treasurer, filling the position rendered vacant through Mr. G. C. Glenn's election as vice-president, Mr. A. Macnab expressed appreciation of the honour members had done him, and trusted that the meeting to be held at Awapuni next month would mark a turn for the better in the fortunes of the club. A suggestion that members might look for a rebate on subscriptions because of the necessity to travel to i Palmerston North for the spring meeting did not meet with the approval of members, but it was urged that members should make a special effort to support the meeting and show appreciation of the Manawatu Racing dun’s action in making the course available. It was decided that any member on active service with His Majesty's Forces, whether overseas or in the Dominion, should b° treated as honorary members wilth full privileges. A vote of condolence with the relatives of deceased members was carried in the usual manner. ROYAL MAIL DESTROYED GRAND NATIONAL WINNER LONDON, May 23. It has just been learned that another Grand National winner is dead —the lifth this year. This time it is I'.cyal Mail, a comparatively young horse whom E. Williams steered first past the post at Aintree in 1937. Royal Mail's fine career was marred by tragedy. He won the Grand National for Mr. Lloyd Thomas, who, although by no means a young man, decided to ride the horse himself in the 1938 race. When riding another horse at Derby, as part of his preparation for the big race, Mr. Lloyd Thomas was thrown—and killed. The horse was then sold to Mrs. C. Evans for 6500 guineas, and although he won a number of races for his new owner, things continually went against him. In the 1938 Grand National he broke a blood vessel and failed to finish the c-.urse. He newt- seemed to be quite ih t same horse again. In last year's event he ran agr.n and finished ninth, but an accident kept him out of the race this year. In fact, he made no progress from it and had to be dest ’ oyed.