AUCKLAND RACING CLUB.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 239, 9 October 1928, Page 6

AUCKLAND RACING CLUB.

While deploring at all times such unfortunate disturbances as occurred at Ellerslie on Saturday, I think one can safely say the whole root of the trouble lies with the Auckland Racing Club in their downright autocratic and conservative methods of treating the public as they do. The latter have stood it long enough. The A.R.C. is the wealthiest racing club in Xew Zealand, if not in Australasia. They have so much money that they do not know* where to spend it first; and who supplies it! The public, and the public only. Then why should not the public be considered and * treated accordingly? This autocratic body of gentlemen were considering (and, I think, still are) erecting an expensive and lavishly-furnished Jiew stand for members only, costing thousands. Yet the poor public, who pay dearly for their sport, away on the outside have not a roof to their beads, rain as it might in bucketfuls. Two or three years ago it used to cost 3/6 to get into the Leger enclosure. This has gradually been increased, sixpence being put on to the unfortunate racegoer about everr othA- meeting, and now it stands at either 5/6 or «/. Is it any wonder the public are incensed ? Then that business of erectin** that high fence on the Ladies' Mile to try to°make those non-racegoers pay for their little flight of pleasure was paltry in the extreme. That flimsy excuse of the horses getting frightened at the jumps we know to be "moonshine," as a man is stationed at each jump on the hill and the public are not allowed within yards of it. Ellerslie racegoers are fed up with having to pay the piper while their money is spent in thousands by the A.R.C. in other directions: even a worm will turn. E. LAXSELL. I wish to enter my protest about Saturdav'g disgraceful proceedings at Ellerslie. However regrettable the confusion in the Mitchelson Cup race was. it was nothing to what happened afterwards, and I hope an inquiry will be held as to why the police allowed tile Steeples to be run while so many thousands were on the course. VALKOX. John Thomas Scott criticises the action of the club in starting the steeplechase. "At the Start" criticises the way in which the previous race was started. "P.D." says there should be some recognised method of signalling the recall of the field after a false start.