THE FORBURY PARK TROTTING CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 1 September 1909, Page 54

THE FORBURY PARK TROTTING CLUB.

The report and balance sheet of tho Forbury Park Trotting Club, which the president (Mr W. J. Gore} presented to the members on Monday evening, revealed both a pleasant and a promising- state of affairs, anJ it is evident that, under good management and proper control, light-harass racing in- Dunedin should reach a much higher plane than who* was possible ai Tahuna Park. In the €rst place, the new track will permit of a greater speed development, and consequently be more on a par with the Canterbury tracks. Trainers were never keen on Tehune. Park, where the difference in the going and the sharp turns told against horses accustomed to a better state of things. Another big factor which should stimulate ambition and help the sport generally is that the club will naturally work harder to improve their own property and bring about a better stats of affairs than they were anxious to do when occupying Tahuna Park, where their tenure was liable to termination. The club will also in future be able to avoid clashing against the agricultural show with one of their principal meetings, and this important fact should materially assist in boosting along the spring fixture. At this period there- is invariably large crowds of country visitors in town, but owing to Tahuna Park being occupied by the show they were unable without inconvenience to participate in the racing, which did: not take place until the thousand and ono agricultural implements had been cleared off the ground and when most of the temporary population had returned to their homes. Now this will be changed, and the chance of advancement at this particular fixture greatly enhanced. There was only one discordant note struck at the meeting, and it was made by those who were in favour of retaining the 10s 6d membership fee. In the past there has been six days' zacing- per annum at Tahuna Park, and as it costs 33 6d to get into the lawn en-eloaure it is hard to see what reason* able ground could be advanced for adhering to the old fee.' The ordinary publio lias to pay twice as much ac a member, «.nd in addition the latter lias a voice in the control of the meetings. There is a possibility that this season will be opened with a three ways' meeting^ and , bearing that fact 1 in mind, p.nd the liberal concessions of the past, one cannot feel enthusiastic about the sporting spirit of the 85 sportsmen who voted against the increase. The expense necessitated by the purchase and making of the now track is a matter which should have surely outweighed all the arguments of those in favour of retaining the small fee — a fee which would only procure one day's admittance at some race meetings, — because in addition to that fact the members get far more for their money than is the case with any « other club of importance.