Adverse Conditions Affect Finance

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 743, 16 August 1929, Page 13

Adverse Conditions Affect Finance

TROTTING CLUB’S POSITION PRESIDENT ROWE’S AMBITION 11 M y great ambition has been, and still is,” said President Rowe at yesterday's meeting of Auckland Trotting Club members, “to see the day when the lowest race on the programme is valued at £500.” “Owing, however, to unforeseen circumstances, we have been obliged to mark time,” said Mr. Rowe, “in fact, take one pace to the rear, but I still live in hopes that the near future will see tho continued improvement, and my ambition realised. “I regret I cannot, as in past years, tell you we have had a very profitable year, bad weather conditions having been with us each meeting, and it became so serious that the committee found it necessary to revise the stakes for the winter meeting. The cut still left a very excellent programme, and made no difference to The good fields and keen racing that Alexandra Park Is noted for. It also enabled the club to come out on the right side. “There has been a steady falling off in totalisator returns throughout the Dominion, and those clubs which increased their stakes to the maximum during boom time find now that there is no alternative but to come down. We are one of those clubs..” Appreciation Expressed Mr. Rowe paid a tribute to the work of the handicapper, Mr. George Paul, jun., during the season, and also expressed appreciation of the continued donation by Mrs. L. A . Adams of the valuable cup for the Adams' Memorial Race. Sincere thanks were tendered to the oommittee and stewards, both past and present, for the great help and support received from them during the 25 years of Mr. Rowe’s presidency. There had been many meetings, and at times, long discussions, and ;11though, members did not always see eye to eye with one another, everything was don© with the one idea, to better the position of the sport in general and the club In particular.