TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 59, 10 September 1891, Page 3

TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB.

The annual meeting 1 of the Takapuna Jockey dub was held at the dub’s offices, Devonport, at half-past two on Monday afternoon. There was a crowded attendance. Mr. Alison presided, and called upon the secretary, Mr. R. "Wynyard, to read the annual report, which was as follows:— Your committee have much pleasure in submitting the annual balance-sheet for the year ending July 31, 1891. During the past season your Club held three meetings, each of which was highly successful in every respect, the popularity of the Club being amply shown by the large attendance of the public and patronage of horse owners. The recommendation adopted at last annual meeting re holding - two-year-old races has been most satisfactory, and the committee consider it advisable to continue such races in this season’s programmes. The sand track made on the outside of new course has not been so successful as was anticipated, but will probably be much improved this season. This track cost and it is to be regretted the experiment was one which did not afford the advantages of a good training track as was expected. The receipts for the year have been /3 122 18s, and the expenditure 16s, leaving a profit of 2s. The Club’s liabilities amount to against which there is cash in bank and in hand of^39 2 I 4 S The committee recognise the necessity for a new grand stand and extension of saddling paddock, and trust the Club s operations during the ensuing season may be so successful as to enable the committee to make such requisite improvements. The course is in excellent order, and the drainage done has proved most efficient. After the Winter Meeting the whole course was top dressed and manured with bonedust, the effect of which is plainly apparent. Further tree planting has been done with the object of providing shade and beautifying the grounds. The Chairman then moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, and, in doing so, he said Gentlemen, I have much pleasure in moving the adoption of the report and balancesheet, and wish to congratulate the Club on its continued advancement and increasing popularity. It is also highly satisfactory to know that the new course is such a complete success in all respects. That horse owners fully appreciate the improvements made is evidenced by their, hearty support, and the good class of horses which competed for the best races at the Club’s meetings. During the past season three meetings were held, £1605 10s net being given in stakes, being about £4OO more than the previous season. Each meeting, as you will see by the report, was in all respects successful; for, after paying all liabilities, the substantial profit of £269 2s is shown. The incoming committee will probably consider it advisable to hold four meetings during the coming season, as horse owners especially have expressed their desire that the Club should hold another meeting. This feeling was strongly manifested by numerous applications for the holding of a steeplechase meeting following upon the Auckland Racing Club’s Winter Meeting. Application was made to the Auckland Racing Club for permission to hold such meeting ; but the committee declined to grant it, much to the disappointment of horse owners and the racing public. The holding of another meeting will have to be carefully considered, as the totalisator tax may seriously affect the Club’s revenue. The Government have now notified that the tax is to be reduced from 2| to 1£ per cent. Even then the tax is excessive, and should not exceed 1 per cent., by which an easily collected revenue of about £7OOO- per annum would be realisable. If the 1| per cent, tax is imposed, that tax should come out of the existing percentage, and not added to it, consequently most clubs would have to make an equivalent reduction in stakes. That reduction cannot be made without the sanction and approval of the Colonial Secretary or of the conference of metropolitan clubs. And reference to this brings to my mind what an ignominious position the subordinate clubs throughout the Colony occupy in relation to the metropolitan clubs. According to recent statistics published in the Weekly Press there are about 196 racing clubs in the Colony, 10 of which are metropolitan clubs. These 10 metropolitan clubs meet at conferences held, and, without consulting any club but their own, determine, with closed doors, upon certain new racing legislation, amend and alter existing rules; and, however unreasonable, injudicious, or pre judical to their own interests such legislation may be, the 186 clubs are forced to abide by it. Metropolitan clubs must be maintained, and all should unite in a common endeavour to assist the premier clubs in keeping racing within reasonable bounds, and enforcing fair, desirable, and uniform rules and regulations for the guidance of all racing clubs

throughout the colony ; but, on the other hand, the metropolitan clubs should adjudicate wisely and consistently, and should not resort to objectionable devices, or raise false pleas, and thus forfeit the confidence of those to whom they should be an example. Further, why should 186 out of 196 racing clubs have no voice in the framing or consideration of the rules and regulations under which they are forced to abide ? There can be no reasonable reply to this question. The arbitrary action of some of the metropolitan clubs has been a cause for much discontent. As an illustration of many equally unjust proposals urged by our own Metropolitan Club, I would call the attention of the meeting to one which their delegate was instructed to endeavour to carry into effect at the conference, held in July last, viz : Clause 5 — “ The added money to a race held within 10 miles of the metropolitan clubs shall not be less than 40sovs ; nor shall the entry and acceptance fee exceed 3 per cent.” Now, the object of this proposal could only be to smother all racing clubs, excepting our own, within the vicinity of Auckland, because no other suburban club but Takapuna could have survived the enforcement of such a rule. The Metropolitan Club could have only had this object in view, because they have proved the unreasonableness of their proposal by placing a £3O race on their own programme. If the Metropolitan Club finds it necessary to only give £3O added money to a race on its programme, how is it possible for small clubs to give £4 0 for every race on their programme ? The Auckland Racing Club’s proposal was very properly rejected at the conference, and I only mention this to illustrate to you how necessary it is that suburban and country clubs should have a voice, but not an over-ruling voice, in the framing and consideration of the rules and regulations of racing. As a member of the A.R.0., and with a knowledge of facts, I moved at their annual meeting in the direction I have just referred to, but without effect, as the committee, as I fully expected they would, unanimously sat upon my motion. However, I have received letters from nearly all parts of the colony, approving of the motion, and the Southern Press have written most favourable criticisms. The Dunedin Jockey Club have set a good example by convening a meeting of all clubs in its district during this month, with the object of conferring upon proposed new rules of racing—thus showing one Metropolitan Club is wishful to promote unanimity and good feeling with subordinate clubs. However I fear lam detaining you upon this question, and will conconclude by stating that there is every reason to believe the present Colonial Secretary will not assist in the enforcement of unjust or tyrannical legislation. I trust that during the ensuing season our club may be especially succesful, as it is absolutely necessary for the convenience of the club’s patrons that a larger grandstand and saddling paddock should be provided, and now that the club has paid off the liabilities incurred when making the new course, it will be the duty of the new committee to keep these required improvements steadily in view. Before concluding, I must say a few words with respect to the manner in which Mr. Wynyard has carried out his duties as secretary. He has been most assiduous in his endeavours to further the best interests of the club, and at the same time deservedly enjoys the full confidence of horse owners and the racing public. With these remarks I have much pleasure in proposing the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. The report and balance-sheet were then adopted. The following gentlemen were elected as the committee for the ensuing year: Messrs. E W. Alison, A. Alison, F. Wells, J. Mays, R. H. Duder and W. H. Fenton. Votes of thanks were passed to the chairman and the members of the retiring committee for their services during the past year.

The Auckland Trotting Club have refused to pass the Onslow Club’s programme for Labour demonstration day, the 28th October. The sub-committee of the latter club have decided to ask for the 21st November, when they will give away in stakes, this being a reduction of £\s from that originally intended. We hope to be able to publish their programme in our next issue. The Onslow have decided to claim Labour demonstration day in future.