OTAGO.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 854, 19 July 1906, Page 6

OTAGO.

Dunedin, July 18. At the annual meeting of the North Otago Jockey Club the chairman (Mr. C. W. Reid, said that the club could no longer license bookmakers. Last year the club received £256 3s in license fees from the fielders, and as this amount represents about £2600 passing through the totalisators, their decision is not a matter of mere sentiment.

Mr. A. A. McMaster, an ex-president and steward of the North Otago Jockey Club, has severed his official connection with the club. Mr. McMaster was identified with the fortunes of the club when it was not in its present prosperous condition, and it is hoped that his popular “ pale blue and pink hoops” are not to be folded away in consequence of his official retirement. It is reorted that a patron of A. West’s stable has purchased the Multiform colt Cuneiform from Mr. G. G. Stead. The colt will have an old stable companion in Delaware for a mate when he goes to Australia, whilst another Multifor mcolt in Equiform is owned in the same interest. At the annual meeting of the North Otago Jockey Club, reference was made to the excellent work done in the club’s interests by Mr. G*. M. Proctor and those who have come in contact with that gentleman will concur in the statement that as a secretary of a jockey club he would be hard to improve upon. He is invariably most zealous In favouring the club’s business interests, and at the same time desirous that an attendance at the Oamaru meeting should be made as pleasant as his powers will permit. During this season the North Otago Jockey Club disbursed £2OOO in stakes, which sum represented an increase of 650sovs above the amount given away during the previous year. Several members of the North Otago Jockey Club have resigned from that body owing to the carrying of no-license in the district. The third volume of the New Zealand Stud Book is now ready for publication, but breeders are apparently as dilatory as ever in sending in returns, and are consequently blind to their own interests. Some penalty should be created for tie non-entry of bloodstock qualified t<< be in the Stud Book, such as that no horse who is not entered should be eligible for entry in weight-for-age or “ classic” races. This might have the effect of bringing breeders up to the mark and compel them to do through fear of punishment what they should willingly do in the interests of the thoroughbred. The D.J.C. has appointed Mr. J C. V. Crawford as caretaker of the Wingatui racecourse. No less than 142 applications were received for the position.