IN THE MONEY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 45, 9 March 1937, Page 8

IN THE MONEY

(Special from "Early Bird")

Provincial Investments

AUCKLAND, This Day. It is only a few seasons ago that many racing and, trotting clubs were singing what sounded like their swan songs, and some actually \vere so. Nowadays, th© popular theme song, in the north at any rate, on the part of these clubs is, "We're in the Money." Totalisator revenue in the Auckland district has soared jn renjarkable fashion this season and, though no records have actually been made yet, the figures ai;e rapidly approaching the turnovers registered in .the 1920-21 season. • • Ther© are foiir big provincial " meetings that always attract very laxge crowds, these being Waikato; Te Aroha and Ohinemuri, with the one day of Frankl\in, representing in all seven days' racing. Three of these clubs have already disposed of their fixtures, Ohinemuri alone remaining to b© held. With five of the seven days racing. now left behind, the totalisator investments approach the quarter-million, the precise aggregate hedng £210,158, and this within a fortnight. Up Fifty Per Cent, Te Aroha holds pride of place with its two«-day turnover of .£91,658,.. Waikato being. a good second '-with .£76,613. Then followed- Franklin- with £41,886 for the on© day. Last season the in-' vestments of these clubs were as follow: Te Aroha, £62,032, Waikato £51,791 and Franklin £25,839, a total of £139,662. The increase is thus £70,496, or just 50 per cent. The position is really good, for last year there .was also a substantial increase noted over the investments f for the preceding season. Twelve monthe ago the Ohinemuri Jockey Club handled £51,072 for its two days, a big sum then. There should be a further big increase here, provided th© club can handle all the money offeriug. It has plenty of terrace accommodation for spectators, but it js rather cramped for room round the totalisator, although fresh means have been adopted to cope with the expected rush. This boom in the north is already being reflected in tbe increased prize money being given, so that next season further good stakes may be aniicipated. The Waikato Racing Club is to stage a winter fixture towards the end of May and already there is curiosity as to what the stakes will be, and owners most concerned may be in for a very pleasant surpris© when the prize money is finally decided.