RACING CLUBS AT VARIANCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 397, 4 July 1928, Page 13

RACING CLUBS AT VARIANCE

AVONDALE J.C. AND AUCKLAND R.C. A.R.C. ATTITUDE CONSIDERED UNFAIR In moving the adoption of the annual report and balance sheet (already published in The Sun), at the annual meeting yesterday of members of the Avondale Jockey Club, the president, Mr. Donald McLeod, said: “As mentioned at the last annual meeting your committee called for tenders for the proposed new stands, bur in view of the serious reduction in the profits for the spring meeting, as compared with the profits for the spring meeting of 1926, principally owing to the action of the Auckland Racing Club changing their dates from November 9 to about the first week in October, bringing it right on top of our fixture, it was thought inadvisable, under the circumstances, to proceed with their erection. “Members, however, will be pleased j to learn that no time is being wasted j in pushing on with the minor works, which are part and parcel of the main j scheme, and the contractor is now j erecting terraces for our outside | patrons. These will provide accommo- j dation for about 3,000 people and will ] eventually form the front of the stand when it is shifted from the ins!* enclosure. CHANGE OF DATES It will be remembered that at our last annual meeting the rumour of the Auckland Racing Club changing their spring dates was discussed. At the time I did not think such an action on the part of the Auckland Racing Club was likely, but 1 am sorry to say the rumour was well founded, and tbey eventually raced in October, coming right on top of our spring meeting, with the result I have already mentioned. This season they have adopted a similar course, which to my mind is decidedly unfair, and will be again prejudicial to our fixture. It seems altogether unreasonable that the Auckland j Racing Club, by reason of its powers, i can choose any dates it likes irrespective of the wishes of smaller clubs. “It is stated that racing in October is to prevent clashing with the spring meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club, but would the change have taken place if November 9 was still a holiday ? THREAT TO SECEDE “It is only quite recently that it was officially stated by the Auckland Racing Club that they would secede from the Conference if their spring dates were interfered with in the interests of Canterbury, and without being in any way parochial, it would have been thought that a club in its own district; would have the assistance of the metropolitan body, in the matter of dates, before one of the large metropolitan clubs in the South Island. “If racing at Ellerslie and Riccarton j on the same dates is prejudicial to i Canterbury, members will readily ! realise the effect it will have on your club’s spring meeting if the Auckland Racing Club is to be allowed to continue t<> hold its meetings in October. INEFFECTUAL PROTEST “Your club was also unfortunate last season with its autumn dates. The Manawatu Club, which was allotted at the Conference in July, April 26 and 28, for its autumn meeting, were subsequently, six months later, granted permission to alter its dates to April 18 and 19, thus clashing with Avondale. This undoubtedly affected our meeting from a financial point of view. “A strong protest to the change of dates was lodged by the Auckland District Committee and your executive. These were overruled by the president, without any reference to the Dates Committee, one of the reasons advanced being that as the clubs were such a distance apart, neither would be affected by racing on the same day. A QUESTION TO ANSWER "In view of the expressed opinion of the authorities that clubs separated by the distance of Palmerston Xorth and Avondale would not be affected by racing on the same day, what about Auckland and Canterbury, which arc nearly twice the distance apart? “At the forthcoming meeting of the Conference, although the many important remits to be discussed, it is not thought likely that under the circumstances, which necessitate the Conference being held at Christchurch, that many alterations to the Rules will be effected.”