The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, APRIL 21, 1888. RACING IN ASHBURTON.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1821, 21 April 1888, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, APRIL 21, 1888. RACING IN ASHBURTON.

The Autumn Meeting of the Ashburton Racing Club which was brought to a conclusion yesterday, cannot be pronounced a success. 'J he attendance was much smaller than we have been accustomed to see at the fixtures of the Club, and the racing realised none of the advantages which theorists tell us should be derived from the sport. Perhaps this display of apathy by the public is no feat together a matter for regret. The money spent on the racecourse, the contention of interested people notwithstanding, adds very little to the wealth or well-being of the locality m which that racecourse may be situated. A few individuals, the publicans and cab-pro-prietors, may reap an insignificant harvest, but any greater prizes will bo secured by the birds of passage and professional sportsmen and gamblers who leave ; very little on the scenes of their conquests. Still the gentlemen who devote a large amount of energy and considerable time to the direction of the affairs of tho senior Racing Club of the district, are entitled to a good peal more consideration at the hands of the Ashburton public. Their object— the provision of what should be a thoroughly wholesome amusement — is a perfectly disinterested one, and they have succeeded above the custodians of all similar institutions m keeping their proceedings above the breath of reproach. They have made mistakes and suffered misfortunes ; it would bo strange indeed if they had not ; but it is very much to tho credit of tho Club that their! management, while liberal and painstaking, has become a terror to evil-doers and a model to move pretentious associations. r lho comparative failure of the recent meeting is probably due to a falling off m the spending power of the community. The necessities of life now engage all the attention of tho people ; its luxuries can only be enjoyed m reduced quantities and at longer intervals. Our local sportsmen must either content themselves with smaller things, or attract more outside support. Perhaps the latter alternative might be. attained by providing greater facilities tiff Christchurch visitors for reaching thj course. Excursion trains, at very lowfares, run to Kangiora, Oxford, Culver-; den and other places not half the size of Ashburton, on race days, and the city people flock to these gatherings. Hero, we have only the most trifling concessions and many regular race-goers stop at home. Tho substitution of ouexday's racing for two, a thoroughly good programme, and cheap fares might revive all the fading glories of the Ashburtofc. Bating Club. It is worth trying.