NO DECREASE IN PRIZE MONEY

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 127, 19 August 1927, Page 7

NO DECREASE IN PRIZE MONEY

AUCKLAND CARD FOR NEW SEASON WILL BE AGAIN ATTRACTIVE

“THE sum of £29,700 was paid x out in stakes last year, £2,700 short of the previous year, when eight days’ racing was held, which was an increase of £2,000,” said the president, Mr. J. Rowe, at the annual meeting of the Auckland Trotting Club yesterday afternoon, adding later, amid applause, “there will be no decrease in the stakes this year.”

The exorbitant taxation being extracted from racing and trotting clubs throughout the Dominion is having a detrimental effect upon the financial obligations, and its influence is reflected in the majority of instances by a cut in stakes for the ensuing year. Smaller organisations have found it almost impossible to continue the struggle for existence, and many of the larger, stronger and more influential clubs have felt the necessity for tightening their purse strings. When such action becomes absolutely essential, the only way clubs can “pull in their horns” is by so making a reduction in the value of the stakes. Evidence of this has not been wanting, when some racing and trotting clubs recently made a readjustment of prize money on a lower scale. MODEST CUTS Certainly in some directions the alteration is a modest one; nevertheless, it is the beginning, and goes to show that if the present policy of extortionate taxation is continued, the pruning knife will be freely used on the tree of prizes. With such a gloomy outlook, it was exhilarating to hear the announcement made by president Rowe. LIBERAL STAKES The management of the club is to be warmly congratulated on the sporting spirit shown, and its enterprise will be-amply rewarded by subsequent results. The club has always taken a pride in catering on a most liberal scale for owners, and the latter will genuinely appreciate the action of the executive.

The Auckland Club last year paid out in prize money the magnificent sum of £29,600, exclusive of the handsome gold cup valued at 105 sovereigns, which is attached to the big event of the year—the Auckland Cup, —practically the same sum as the Government collected from the club by its taxation policy. CARD WILL BE ATTRACTIVE This then will form the amount to be donated in prizes for the new season, and the committee is now preparing the schedules for the year’s operations. There will be a tightening up of some of the limits, while provision is being made to have one of the important events of the card named the Mark Memorial, in honour of the memory of the late secretary, who was one of the founders of the club, and devoted a great portion of his life to its development, progress and ultimate success.