WHANGAREI RACING CLUB.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1307, 13 May 1915, Page 8

WHANGAREI RACING CLUB.

The annual meeting of the Whangarei Racing Club was held on Wednesday night. The president, Mr. L. W. Nelson, in congratulating the members on a successful season, said that in spite of difficulties the finances showed a sl’ght increase. The stakes had been reduced from what had been given the previous year by £l5O, but it was the general opinion of those qualified to judge that they would have had better fields had the stakes been set out on a more liberal scale. General expenses-for 1914 were £325 14s. 6d., and in 1915 totalled £306 11s., being a saving of £l9 3s. The main items were: Wages and labour, £155 7s. 2d.; salaries, £6O; refreshments. telephone and telegrams, £35 7s. sd. With regard to receipts in 1914 the totalisator returned £596 Ils. 5d., and in 1915 £428 ss. 4d., a falling off of £l6B 6s. Id. Nominations and acceptances in 1914 produced £l5l. and in 1915 £lOl 55., being £49 15s. less. Privileges this year realised £l3l 45., against £ll3 in 1914, an increase of £lB 14s. Receipts from gates and stands in 1914 were £249 10s., and in 1915 totalled £246 18s., a falling off of £2 12s. At the conclusion of the second day’s racing this year the stipendiary steward (Mr. A. Gordon) had suggested to the committee that the club would greatly improve its position by an increase in sakes, adoption of minimum fees for nominations and acceptances, and the inclusion of only

one hurdle race each day, the making of a ploughed track for training purposes, better transport facilities for visiting horses, erection of a stand and an office for the convenience of stewards and staff, conference with ether racing clubs in the North with regard to dates of respective meetings, and other matters of common interest.

The report and balance-sheet were adopted, a profit of £l4 17s. being shown. A member, Mr. H. Bray, asked for some information relating to the acceptance list which appeared in the race card. It was explained by the secretary that the weights did not appear on the date advertised, as the handicapper deferred issuing the weights until after the Auckland meeting, and the acceptances were then due and there was no t me for the owners to send in their acceptances. The cards represented practically all the nominations, but all owners that accepted paid their fees. Mr. L. G. Murray, one of the auditors, said the Auckland races were held on January 1 and 2, and the Whangarei races on January 7 and 8, which ought to have allowed sufficient time for weights to be telegraphed to Whangarei. The discrepancy in the nominations and acceptances was a serious one, which should be carefully considered to prevent a repetition. The following officers were appointed:—President, Mr. L. W. Nelson (re-elected); vice-president Mr. J. R. Mclnness; judge, Mr. J. T. Stone (re-elected); clerk of scales, Mr. M. Mclnnes; clerk of course, Mr. J. Sloane; timekeeper, Mr. Dingle; auditors, Messrs. Bain and Murray; official handicapper Mr. J. Chadwick; committee, Messrs. H. J. Bray, A. R. Crane, D. J. Finlayson, J. G. Fraser, H. Hutchinson, M. Mclnnes, J. A. S. McKay, A. J. M. McKay, A. G*. McKenzie, and J. N. McCarroll. Consideration was given to a proposal to increase the stake money for the next race meeting, and thirty members guaranteed £5 each against possible loss.