NOTES AND COMMENTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 132, 25 August 1927, Page 7

NOTES AND COMMENTS

FROM VARIOUS SOURCES WORTHY TRIBUTES TO OFFICIALS Mr. o»v«y’* Retirement Trotting clubs generally are expressing regret at the decision of the chief stipendiary steward. Mi. T. H. Davey to retire from active service. During the many years Mr. Davey has occupied the position, he. has filled it with credit to the association, "h“ sport and to himself. Fearless ind Just, the retiring stipendiary steward played a large part in bringing the sport up to its present high standard. Auckland Club’s Secretaryship Mr. A. G. Mabee. the recentlyappointed secretary to the Auckland Trotting Club, has been associated with Mr. Davey as stipendiary steward during the whole period and. with the retiring official, is entitled to a full measure of praise for the raising of the standard of the sport. Mr. Mabee has a wide knowledge of the trotting business, and this factor should be of benefit to the Auckland Club when he takes up his new duties. We!l*Do»erved Compliment Those who have followed the work of handicapper Geo. Paul since he took up the onerous duties will agree with the Auckland Club executive that his efforts have been rewarded with highly successful results. It was only fitting that the president of the club should pay tribute to Mr. Paul’s work in his annual address, and it is generally admitted that the compliment was well deserved. Mr. Paul promises to go a long way at the handicapping business, and one of these days he will be premier adjuster for New Zealand. A Mark Memorial The Auckland Club intends to perpetuate the memory of its late secretary, Mr. C. F. Mark, probably by the erection of a suitable tablet in the main grandstand. Such a memorial to the founder of trotting in the Auckland district could serve to point out to the younger generation the wonderful work accomplished by the late official during his long connection with the sport. The inclusion of a “Mark Memorial” on the programme each year will act as a further tribute to the deceased secretary’s memory. Otahuhu Club The annual meeting of the Otahuhu club will be held on Friday afternoon at 3 o’clock, when the president, Mr. H. K-Mackenzie, will present the annual report and balance-sheet. This popuclub paid out in stakes last year the handsome sum of £14,250, and handed over to the Government as a taxation nest-egg, £15,043. OUr da - vs ’ r&cing were held during rT e .* year -Alexandra Park, the club Pay * n rent for the course £3.000, <>r *750 a day. The fixtures were in t'ach instance most successful. Wellington Nominations th^f' ners . and trainers are reminded that nominations for all events on the Wellington Club’s spring programme close to-morrow, Friday, at 8 o’clock, with Secretary Short. The fixture is set down for September 17, and it is anticipated that many Southern horses are being prepared for Auckland 5*4 take part in the racing at the ttutt. There will be in all probability * few nominated from the Auckland Province. A Merry Maiden At last the much-discussed trotting sensation, known as the Gathered old-Promenade case, has reached finality, the principals, Walter McCarthy, well known in Auckland as owner and trainer of the speedy mare Promenade, and William Matterson being found guilty. Promenade had a fine record in *'ew Zealand, having on one occasion defeated Great Bingen, and at another Period the daughter of Logan Pointer and Queen's Drive had registered a mile performance of 2.11 and a fraction. a nice kind of a miden to bump U P against. Services Recognised The excellent work accomplished by Mr - T. H. Davey. as chief stipendiary steward in connection with the New Zealand Trotting Association, has not passed unnoticed by the executive of the association, as Mr. Davey, who is retiring from the office, has been granted a life annuity of £2OO. Prior to taking up the position he has just resigned. Mr. Davey was connected racing and trotting in another sphere, as he for quite a number of years controlled the sporting department of the “Canterbury Times.” Christchurch. Evil of Taxation The Wellington Trotting Club experienced a loss on last season’s operations. it started with a credit balance of £1.773 0s 7d and concluded 10s 9d against its name, yuring the past year a considerable sum was spent in the erection of ad-

ditional comforts for the public and in extraordinary repairs and remaking of the tracks. The officials are of the opinion that the taxation is too heavy and intend joining other clubs in their endeavour to bring about a lessening of the burden. The assets of the club, that is the buildings and appointments at Hutt Park, after 20 per cent, and 10 per cent, depreciation have been written off, are £3,618 15s 3d and the liabilities are nil. A New System One way is as good as another in selecting dividend payers, according to one light-harness enthusiast at Addington recently, says a Southern writer. He was making his first visit to the Southern course, and many of the horses and reinsmen were strangers altogether. On the second day of the meeting he saw one driver having a perfect tug-of-war with his charge, being bent backward almost out of the sulky seat. The visitor decided that the partnership might have a better understanding on the third day, and duly invested on the off-chance. To his consternation, the same tactics were adopted,' but the horse gained second money, and paid a very lucrative dividend. Subsequently it was discovered that the horse in question is an extremely hard puller and cannot be driven any other way.