RACING DATES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1503, 27 July 1912, Page 6

RACING DATES.

THE EANGITIKEI CLUB. Tho action of the Racing Conference, or its representatives,' in refusing the Rangitikei Racing Club January 1 and 2 as the dates for its reinstated raco days, is likely to provoke a great deal of discontent. The club had'held these dates for a groat number of .rears;-and it was , fully expected, that when tho : Govern-, ment redressed.the grievance the club had suffered from' by the withdrawal of the whole- of its -totalisator permits by retiirninsf two" out p{, tho four days, the two days would bo January'l'and 2. Instead, tho linoiiiß Conferonco representativeselected September'l7'and 18 as tho days. Tho effect of this on the club can bo estimated by' the fact that at its last meeting, held'in September, 1910, its turnover was .£8895,' whereas at. its January meeting it amounted to Tho Otaki, Boeing Club is strongly ofthe opinion that the recommendation of the conference to allot the Eangitikei Olub September 17 and 18 will eeriously interfere with tho success of the Otaki Club, whoso dates nro September 23 and 24. Tho rcaron for this is apparent. The Wanganui Club races on September 28. Now, if the Rangitikei Chib races a week before, nnd the Wangaiiui Club a week after, tho Otaki meeting, obviously horse owners north of the Manawatu w'ill consider Baugitikei and Wanganui sufficient racing for their horses, to the injury of tho Otaki Racing Club.. Tho Otaki Club would prefer to see tluj Rsanpitikei Racing Club retain the. dates they have raced on for half a century, viz., January 1 and 2, These being holidays, it is argued that they are the most suitable time for tho meeting, if it is-to bo tho financial success so necessary in view , of the position of tho club. To raco as the dates are fixed at present would, ito's submitted, mean that both tho Otaki spring meeting and tho Rangitikei spring meeting would result in financial loss. This view is based on the experience of tho Otaki Club and otheTS that race on non-holi-days in tho early spring. Tho Otaki Club,' therefore, suggests that tho Marton Racing Club should raw- on the dates: they originally selected (September 4 and 5), and that the Rangitikei Club revert to the dato they have held for so many years, and that the Marton Club's odd day be January 29, one week after Foxton and TVelliiiirt'Mi, upon which date there are no other clubs Tacing on tho coast; tho next date after Foxton and Wellington being Febniar.v-5 and 6, held by tho Egmont Racing Club.