CHAIRMAN EXPLAINS

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 125, 23 November 1932, Page 4

CHAIRMAN EXPLAINS

POSITION AT RICCARTON

Mr. George Gould, chairman of the Canterbury Jockey Club, made a statement on Monday in regard to the position of the club and to certain .changes that have been suggested. . ' Mr._ Gould maintained that the five shilling totalisator was a proved loser to clubs which had tried it. He went on to say:—

''Concessions in charges were made to racegoers this year,' and for the first time the club had more than a proportionate reduction.in public support. This is due, of course, to the unquestioned greater popularity of trotting with' the Christchurch public, and to the bad times. In no other place is'the competition of trotting so severe, yet the Canterbury Jockey Club has held its own at least as well as in Wellington or Dunedin. The totalisator turnover declined in greater proportion than the attendance. This was largely due to the presence of the flying filly. Silver Scorn, whose four races were racecourse certainties.

_ The club also suffered from the Auckland Eacing Club altering its dates-this year, to clash with the New Zealand Cup. The club cannot afford to slash wholesale, its- main . sources ■of income. Members . get good . value! for their subscriptions, in tickets. -Nowhere in the world can.you see better racing, or see it in greater comfort—weather permitting—than at Eiccarton.

•''The matter of entertainment and privileges is ahvays a difficult one By custom much is done to hold the goodwill of people, who can do little in return. Our,pnnripal concern is for owners ana to maintain stakes. The club's fund tor social hospitality is very, limited, but the little spent is spent to the best advantage, among people who are congenial to one another, and whose absence from the racecourse would be.a serious loss Those who cannot be included should not feel nfnTat all "* ™ * qUestion of a little or