South Australian Register (Adelaide, SA : 1839 - 1900), Tuesday 15 July 1873, page 7


SPORTING.

FORMATION OF A JOCKEY CLUB.

A meeting or gentlemen interested in the formation of a Racing Club was held at Mr. Coates's office, Register -Chambers, on Tuesday, July 8, Mr. W. E. Simms, M.P.,

presiding. The attendance was small, but it was mentioned that over 70 persons had promised to become subscribers. It was resolved that a Club be formed, to be called ' The South Australian Jockey Club,' and that ' the first Committee of Management consist of Messrs. W. K. Simms, M.P , G. Bennett, C. Mann, M.P., H. Hughes, and W. St. Louis Gordon, who shall remain in office until the general meeting of the Club, to be held after the next May meeting.' Mr. C. J. Coates was appointed Secretary, his salary to be decided by the Committee. The amount of subscription was fixed at five guineas. Gentlemen desirous of joining the Club to forward their names to the Secretary for the approval of the Committed. The Committee were requested to draw up and publish a code of rules. It was resolved that the Governor be requested to become Patron, and Sir J. Morphett President. Cordial thanks were passed to Mr. J. Christopher for his exertions in obtaining promises of support, and to Mr. G. Bennett for being the means ot bringing about the meeting, as well as for the general interest he had taken in racing, it being obsc-ved that the success of the two last meetings had been almost entirely due to his efforts. Mr. Bennett, in acknowledging the compliment, remarked that not only had the Stewards been able to pay off the debt on the old Jockey Club, but they would have a nice little sum to hand over to the new one. He believed the Club intended entering into negotiations with the Municipal Corporation for a lease of the Old Adelaide Racecourse. Kapunda Tcrf Club. Mr. Ebenezer Ward, M.P., has obtained the names of 40 persons who promise to subscribe £3 3a. each as members of a projected Turf Club at Kapunda. He has also, the Evening H ties states, got a written offer of a lease, with right of purchase, of the paddock on which the late successful Eapunda Race Meeting was held. This offer Mr. Ward will lay before a meeting of people interested in sporting shortly.