THE TURF.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2492, 4 May 1909, Page 2

THE TURF.

RACING ON THE RAND

The Johannesburg “Star” reports that at Johannesburg in March the first sitting toyk place of the Court of the ComnTission appointed to enquire what steps should be taken (if any) to regulate and control racing and to reduce and limit the number of race meetings, to check and-restrict betting, to regulate and restrict the dissemination and publication of advertisements with re"urd to such lotteries. ■ - - Tlie first witness was Mr Sebastian Mnnriik, accountant to the three clubs affiliated to the Jockey Club, who produced a return of the race meetings in 1898, showing that 39 days’ racing had occurred all along the Rand. In those days there was only the -racing of the chibs affiliated with the Jockey Club.In 1908 the Pony and Galloway Club had 14 meetings, the Turf Club .10, Germiston 12, ancl the Eastern Districts Club 10, or a total of 52, which was an increase of 13 over the figui'es for 1893. In 1908 there was no racing on the "West Rand, the last club in the West ceasiuo- to exist in 1904. One club applied for affiliation since, but the application was refused, as the Jockey Cluo thought there was'sufficieut racing and there* were no spare dates. He went on to deal with the valuo of stakes, and said they were £27,171 in 1898, and £72,822 in 1908, the former including Krugersdorp and Roodepqort meetings. The Totalisator returns in 1898 were £253,370, and in 1908 £527,732. In 1898 tlie gate-money was £9567, and in 1908 £27,138, these figures being for the Turf Club and-Pony and Galloway Club. He could ascertain what the returns were from other sources of income. The Turf and Pony Clubs got 8 por cont. - of the tote., and the linger of the tote. 2 por cent., and paid all expenses. His clubs, were not registered with limited ability. Mr Emanuel Montague Marks, secretary of the Auckland Park Club, stated that that club was registered as a limited liability company. It was founded in 1904 with a capital of £SOOO. In that year he could not say how many days’ racing there were, but in 1908 there were 36, of which one meeting was lield in conjunction with the Booysens Club and one'for charity purposes. They gave £18,050 in,stakes last year; £8344 was the gate money, and £149,620 passed through The tote., which was for 10s. The charge for admission was 7s 6cl all round, lhe club was not out of pocket over the charity meeting, as the expenses were deducted from the total result. The club controlled the tote, and all the expenditure connected with it, and took 10 per cent. All the officials were appointed-by tho directors, who were not interested m the receipts except in so far as they were shareholders. The shares were £1 shares, and to date they had paid firteen dividends of 10 per cent. Tlio club owned 73 acres, freehold. There were no financial relations between Ins club and tlie Booysens Club. Mr S. Sell lam, managing director of the Booysens Club and chairman of the Board, said the club was formed in March, 1908; and racing started on April 1. The company was a limited liability one, with a capital of £7009 all issued. There had been twentyei'dit days’ racing up to date, and tlie stakes amounted to £10.197, the gate monev amounting to £44-51. Jhe lot© was 4.05, and £79,669 had passed through it- There were two enclosures —ss and 10s. They regarded all shareholders, owners, and trainers as menibl The chairman remarked that they were desirous of getting through tlie work of the. Commission as quickly as possible, and wisli-Gd itejo^bo^jniQWti

through the Press that people who had evidence to give should come forward at the earliest possible moment, supplying Mr Adler, the secretary, with typed copies of ‘tlie evidence proposed to be given. The Commission wished their report to be in the hands of the Government at the earliest possible dato before the next session of Parliament in June. .-