TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume I, Issue 6, 6 September 1890, Page 2

TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB.

In submitting the annual balance-sheet for the year ending July 31st, 1890, your committee have much pleasure in reporting that the club’s operations have been highly successful, for notwithstanding that a large expenditure has been made in finishing, fencing, and planting the new racecourse, the substantial profit of 12s. nd. remains. During the past racing season, three meetings have been held, each of which has been well patronised, the stakes paid away amounting to ss. The total liabilities of the club amount to 195., against which there is cash in bank and in hand of flfli Bs. Bd. The financial position of the club is most satisfactory, for the expenditure on the new racecourse has been considerable, and in addition to this ' the overdraft due to the bank at the commencement of the season has been paid off. The opening of the new racecourse at the Jubilee Meeting proved a great success, both in attendance and financially, there being over 7000 people present, and the large sum of passed through the totalisator. The racing was first-class, and the horse-owners expressed themselves much pleased at the extension and great improvement made. At the Winter Meeting there was also a large attendance and the meeting passed off admirably, the only drawback being that parts of the new-made ground were so soft as to seriously impede the horse-racing. There had been a continuous fall of rain for about a week previous to the day of meeting, and the ground being newmade in two places, and the drainage incomplete the ground was very heavy in these parts. During the winter months the necessary drainage has been done, and in future it is fully anticipated the course will at all times during the racing season be both dry and good going. The racing track is now well grassed, and is at present in splendid condition. Trees—principally native —have been planted round the outer boundaries of the course, and also on the rising ground above the racecourse, the object being to provide shelter for the general public. Negociations which have been pending for some time re purchase of racecourse, have been at last completed, on terms which your committee feel sure will meet with your, entire approval, and they recommend that a sand track for training purposes be made as soon as possible, the cost of which is estimated at Your committee have had under their consideration the establishment of two and three-year-old races, the conditions of which they propose should differ with those of the A.R.C., penalties being added and allowances made. If these proposals meet with your approval an early notification of date and particulars will be published, the added money being for each race. This may seem a large sum for your club to pay away at one meeting for two weight-for-age races, but as it is desirable to hold such races, no doubt this action will meet with full encouragement from breeders and horseowners. The above report, which was adopted, at the Takapuna Jockey Club’s annual meeting must be considered one, if not the most satisfactory balance-sheet, that has come under our notice. Besides having made great improvements they have a surplus on the right side. The proposition to establish “ two and three-year-old weight-for-age races, the conditions of which they propose should differ with those of the A.R.C., penalties being added and allowances made : ” reads rather ambiguous. It greatly depends on what basis the penalties and allowances are made; if on a proper basis the races should be a great success. The best plan would be to adopt the English scale in rather a modified form, as it is well known that two-year-olds can give more weight away to each other than at any other age. The amount of is very liberal and as remarked in the report ought to encourage owners. The following gentlemen were elected the committee for the ensuing year:—Messrs. E. W. Alison, J. Mays, F. Wells, W. H. Fenton, R. H. Duder, A. Alison and W. Adams.

At ar athletic meeting patronized by the Prince and Princess of Wales, the one mile bicycle handicap was won by P. J. Macready, who made the best on record for safeties, with 2 min. 31 3-sth secs. —Sporting and Dtamalic News.