SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 61, 30 July 1912, Page 5

SPORTING.

| AUSTRALIAN RAGING. By Cable—Press Associatioar—Copyrifkt. Melbourne, July 29. The Moonee Valley Handicap resulted as follows:—Raupare 1, Two Ales i, Titaaia 3. Won by a neck. Time, lmin. 43y g aec. JOCKEY CLUB. ANNUAL MEETING. The annual general meeting of the above club was held in the ee*ret*ry'a office last night, when the following members were paesent: Hon. 0. Sa*uel (in the chair). Messrs. Goldwater, Blundell, Thompson, Cliff, Sole, Nolan, Orbell, Hempton, Pigott, E. Elliott, E. Sole, N. Bewley, Mills, Standisli, Linn, W. C. Weston, Chaney, Phillips,. Hooker, L. B. Webster, and C. M. Lepper. Apologies were received from Messrs. Newtoa King, Kllis, and C. H. Weston. The chairman submitted the following annual report:—"The committee has to congratulate the members on the successful operations of the club for the year. The workings show a profit of £921 15s 7d, from whicli has been do-' ducted the. very liberal depreciation on • buildings, machine, and plant of £528 17s. The sum of £l7O 3s 2d has also been written off permanent improvements effected during the year. Since the last annual meeting the committee has undertaken the work of re-arranging 1 "' the training tracks, and it is hoped tJ»t when the new grass trial gallop is opened in the spring it will be much appreci- . ated by owners and trainers. The >' newly-formed plough gallop is now in use. The club's totalisator machine, in-' stalled at the commencement of the season, has proved a good investment, and lias amply justified the committee in the expenditure incurred in its purchase. The total cost of the machine and alterations to the building was £554 13s 103, Stakes for the last season were increased by £l7O, and the racing at tfye club's two meetings was highly satisfactory. The club's oniy liability is to the bank, the overdraft being £476 103 9d. Last year the overdraft stood at £378 2s Id. The improvements to be next considered will be the erection of a tea kiosk and also an outside stand.'*

The chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, referred at some length to the changes that had taken place' in regard to racing during the past 'year. Parliament had interfered with the racing held by the various clubs, with the result that a Racing Commission was appointed to • enquire into the matter. The present Government had yielded to a certain extent to representations, and the alterations effected were on the whole very encouraging. The Government had announced that no policy measure would be brought down dealing with the redistribution of dates, but facilities would be given for the introduction of a private member's Bill dealing with the subject. The Taranaki Jockey Club forwarded five remits to the Racing Conference. Three were approved of and two were not. Those not approved of by the conference were those doing away with the crouch or Sloan style of riding in steeplechases and hurdle races, and the alteration of the rule dealing with, the decision by stewards as to what constitutes fraudulent riding. He con-, gratulated the club that after many years they had succeeded in getting the conference to approve of the remit appointing stipendiary stewards. He also congratulated the club on its management for the past year, special thanks being due to Mr. C. M. Lepper for the manner in which 'he had carried out his duties as chairman. In this capacity he was ably assisted, by the club's secretary, Mr. E. P. Webster, and these two gentlemen had left nothing undone. Mr. Samuel regretted very much thai he was no longer a resident of the town, and consequently could not be with the members as often as he wished. He was pleased to say that good feeling had always existed among them. He also congratulated the members on the state of the club's finances.

■Mr. Lepper moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Samuel for the able way , in which he had assisted the club by representing it at the conference at Wellington, and went on to say that if at any time new rules were to be framed, or any alterations were deemed necessary, Mr. Samuel was the man to attend to this. The club must consider itself fortunate in having his services. He hoped Mr. Samuel wbuld long be spared to hold hig present position as president of tJie club.

Mr. Samuel, on rising to reply, was greeted with loud applause. He expressed his thanks for Mr. Lepper's remarks, and said that what he had done for the club had been a delight to him r and while he had such kindness shown to- him as he' had during his years of association with the club it would still be anything but arduous to carry out what he considered his duties. , >a> , (Che election' of officers resulted-4s?foT-lows:—President, Hon. 0. Samuel, M.L.C.; vice-president. Mr, Newton King; judge. Mr. R. H. Pigott; treasurer, Gol. Ellis; clerk Of scales, Mr. A. Gold water; stewards, Messrs. A. Alexander, N. King, F. Watson. L. A. Nolan, A. R. Standish, Thos. Elliot. W. Birdling, Thompso*< B. H. Chanev, J. H. ljem'pton. and C. H. Weston; committee, Messrs. C. M. Lepper, E. F. Blundell, 0. W. Sole, B. H. Chaney, E. Elliott, F. Orbcll, L. A. Nolan, L. B. Webster, A. R. Standish, W. C. Weston, A. Alexander, N. King, and J. H. Hempton, with the treasurer ex officio; hon surgeon,. Dr. Fookes; auditor. Mr. H. Stocker. It was decided that Mr. Stocker'x remuneration be £5 ss, as a. (good deal of extra work had been entailed during the past year. , \ ' ( Mr. Standish asked that thejelub give more support to the Taranafci Hunt Club than it had done in the past. ' After some discussion it was decided, to give as liberal assistance to the ■ Hunt Club as possible. Votes of thanks to 1 the outgoing officers, etc., concluded the meeting.