A MATTER OF FINANCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2815, 26 February 1908, Page 54

A MATTER OF FINANCE.

Without the sinews of war it is practically impossible to wage a success-ful_ -campaign unless stratagem of a Napoleonic order is at the head of affairs.. By skilful generalship many an uphill battle, perhaps a forlorn hope, is won, but in matter-of-fact, everyday life, unless _ money or its equivalent is "at command it is extremely difficult to make a success of anything. This" is particularly the case vith sport, from -which the financial returns are gleaned from a fiokle .pubiio. In racing a shower of rain may divert hundreds of pounds from a club's coffers, and the best efforts to secure large and attractive fields may result in a comparative -waste of energy because something unforseen. may -crop up and change the entire aspect of affairs. Some clubs are fortunately situated, and are haq>py in the possession of a location which makes the financial success of a race meeting & comparatively easy matter. When such olubs ars capably managed success- is assured, but the Dunedin Jockey Club stands alone in the strenuous battle it has had to maintain the prestige as a metropolitan club. In the days dead and gone the attractiveness of the Otago race meetings ranked second to none in the Dominion. That much is easily gleaned from the records of bygone racing; but with the growth of our little world 2he north outbid the south as a racing ground, and come <$F our southern clubs have had a hard fight to keep their Heads above water. A tight money market meant scantily" endowed programmes, .which unfortunately in some oases led to doubtful «port, and ac time went on many good old sports who kept things going a bit dropped out of die game. Seven or eight seasons travelling around the majority of th© meetings held in the South Island convinced the writer that some clubs were struggling along on the mere shadow of a by-gone glory. Clubs which thrived and prospered in th© good old digging days were- found to be struggling on when the- source of wealth, and ' which originally created meetings, in the district had almost petered out, and others which required strong individuals at the head of affairs to -achieve success lacked what was necessary in -that respect and lost importance as a consequence, whilst other^ which livecLon the principle thai one good .meeting makes and maintains two or three naturally fell cut when tSie fountain head dried up. But a few years ago racing in Dunedin under the aegfe of the Duaedin i Jockey Club was a dominant factor of our ..sporting world. The DJJ.C was the first, as -far as memory and tak-en for granted facts go, ~-to start a conference, "between the principal clubs in New Zealand. This b»e verged into the ISew Zealand Racing Conference, but the dub which created the idea has "had to face the tides of -adverse fortunes and "battle alone to • maintain its position as a prominent caterer for the sporting public -Happily there is ampleevidence that the tide has turned in their favour, and lias been co for some seasons past. A slow and sure progress has been recorded sin^e the club took up their quarters at Wingatui, although an uphill fight has had to be fonght all along the line. In the first place a prejudice (in a great measure almost wholly; unjustified) existed against the Wingatui racecourse, but that has" been almost anihilated. and when better means of transit aTe obtainable will foe absolutely wiped out. The fluctua- • tions of the club's fortunes can be beet

set out by a quotation of the . financial returns which have attended its efforts lor many seasons past.* The high-water mark was achieved in the Exhibition year, when at a four days' meeting {including trotting) a sum of £41,616 was registered by the fcotalisators. This, of course, was under exceptional circumstances, and afterwards the Cup returns fell away (for three days) to under £17,4)00. Fluctuations which tocik place up' to 1903 have since been marked by a steady increase to the £22,921 of our last Cup meeting and last week's meeting, taken all round, stands as the best achieved" since the .Exhibition year, which, as previously remarked, was held under advantageous circumstances which nave not been on hand since that festive occasion. It js indeed to .the club's credit that, .success has been achieved in the face of adverse circumstances, "and the writer is convinced tbat if slightly more ambitious ideas were entertained better results would have been obtained than what is actually the case. Evidence of this is gleaned from the fact

that ■each succeedine increase of prizemoney has resulted in better fields, in a sense %imply because the stakes were worth winning. That is the essential part of a programme if success is to oe achieved. Give stood shakes, and cood entries are assured. Obtain good fields, and the public will not be missing. That is to say, make it worth while, and public patronage is assured if there "is any money and horses to be found in the country.