Racing in Australia.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 February 1922, Page 2

Racing in Australia.

— -•*-*«—•- —-— ~ AN-OFFICIAL'S ViU.Vg. WELLINGTON, Felt, tl An interesting sportiltg visitor to Wellington is Mr Frank W. Cooinbes, ons of the stipendiary stewards Of the Australian Jockey Chib: who Urfived from Sydney bjf the' Miriluka (jit Mort- y day.

NEW ZEALAND’S ADVANTAGE.Discussing the subject of. raciiig W Australia with a “Times” reporter last evening, he remarked that one of the great advantages of racing in New Zealand lay in the fact that all clubs were compelled to register. Over in New South Wales, he said, the unregistered clubs had a tremendous hold, and ip consequence the dates of meetings frequently clashed. Clot* to Sydney there were four big potly courses run by unregistered clubs, which drew such enormous Entries that fourteen and sixteen Events appeared on the programmes. The totAl.isatgr. “11l thb Country districts, M said Mr Coohibesj “the tdtalisatdr is Of liftl. l usd, owing to the Sir. fill fields, tHld most of the odds are taken by the bookmakers, Btit in Sydntey, particularly at Rniidwiek, very large sums go throUgh tlie totb. The owners iii most cases approve of the system of hookies, in that they can get better bets ffobt them than tlfey can on the tote, which makes nO distinction betiveen them and the geileriii public, The number of bookmakers at llaridtfiek would he sobiethibg like BdO Or -100, “Personally I like tlie system of betting thdt lias been established iff New Zenlaiici. The difference between the Au&traiiaii arid the Hew -Zealand racecdurseS Strikes oiie iriiiflediittely. It is remarkable! At Randwiek oi>e hears a perfect babei of soiiiid,- the roar of the riiig, as we call it.- At Treritham or Ellerslie it is like a garden fete in comparison.’ ’ GOVERNMENT TAXATION. Tlie Government, he said, derived enormous sums’ in taxes out of racing in Australia—very much more, in comparison, than the New Zealand Government did—on account of the larger number of meetings. Around Sydney there was racing every Wednesday and Saturday and sometimes on Tuesdays. To his mind there was too much altogether. Sydney, being the largest city in Australia, gained the greatest racing patronage, and as a result racing in the other centres had been practically killed. ENCOURAGING JUMPERS. “The Australian Jockey Club,” said Mr Coomhes, in conclusion, “is trying very hard to encourage jumping and jumpers, and with that objteet in view is offering very valuable prices for hurdle and steeplechase events at the winter meeting. It is hoped that some visitors may Venture over from New Zealand. The New Zealander who has a good jumper would find it worth while. Our jumpers are undoubtedly very poor.”