RACING MATTERS

Hokitika Guardian, 12 June 1929, Page 3

RACING MATTERS

There is every indication that the Waikato Hunt Club and Waikato ! Racing Qlub will have to sink their supposed grievances over the allotment of the Labour Day date, a squabble that has been kept alive for several years, and has done no good to racing. On the contrary, it has enabled opponents of racing to take full advantage of it. \ Unless the two clubs can come to some amicable arrangement, writes “ Vedette,” in the “ Evening Post,” it is certain that some of the politicians will seize on this dissension as a means off wrecking the Gaming Act Amendment. This is likely to include a most important clause for racing clubs not generally known, in an additional 1J- per cent rebate on the first £20,000 of totalisator turnover. This £250 per annum, which will amount to some £25,000, will be of considerable advantage to the small clubs, and the Waikato clubs belong to this category. Jn the interests of racing genreally obviously their only reasonable course is to bury the hatchet and settle the matter.

Further, it. looks more than probable that they will have to unite against a common foe, for the Auckland I rotting Club is out for the Labour Day date, and has some, political support. lho Waikato clubs depend largely on patronage ifrom the city of Auckland for their meetings, and if the Auckland Trotting Club secures Labour Day the date will be of little use to either. Their obvious slogan is “ Unite.