Unità documentaria JM-AIY/OttomanRegisters/Vol11/p12a/item66 - About race organisation , 30 January 1906 (Gregorian calendar) - 17 Kânûn Thânî 1321 (Ottoman fiscal calendar (Rumi)

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This command, dated 9 January 1906 and numbered 11, sent by the Civil Office of the State Council, regarding the method of collection of the surplus income to be provided to the municipality in case of an organization of horse racing in Jerusalem, explanation of the organization process of the competition, and notification of the arrangement of awards to be given to the winners, has been examined. This matter has been negotiated in our council, in the presence of the Sanitary Veterinarian Inspector and the Jerusalem Veterinarian Official. The majority of the inquired surplus income shall be provided through the revenue of an entrance fee of either 1 or 1.5 mejidie to be obtained from townsfolk coming to watch the competition and through spaces like coffehouses and restaurants to be opened at the racing square the day of the competition. The competition shall be organized, as was the case in İzmir and Manisa racings, in the Baqaa region of Jerusalem in spring and fall, in accordance with the special program to be arranged by a commission composed of a technical official under the supervision of the local administration and of an expert, at the hippodrome to be straightened in line with the hereby presented map. If it finds much favour, it shall be organized three times a year, and a minimum revenue of 10 thousand piasters is expected to be obtained. The granting of awards to winners shall be organized in such a way as not to exceed half amount of the competition revenue and the other half shall wholly belong to the municipality. However, according to the hereby presented bill, on occasion of the organization of this competition, the construction of a “gallery” and the straightening of the soil at the hippodrome shall require a total preliminary expense of 32,400 piasters and a fixed expense of 5,000 piasters for the competition to be organized two times a year. According to this estimation, this preliminary expense to be covered by the municipality could be paid off within five years. The municipal incomes are not sufficient for the resettlement of the 32,400 piasters in question; however, with a loan at a suitable interest, it will be paid off with the municipality’s share in the revenue to be collected within 5 to 6 years and there would be no need for other expenses, so the majority of general incomes of the municipal fund can be economised after six years. As a matter of fact, horse racing shall be organized not to provide a surplus income for the municipality but to encourage the upbringing of the noble breed of Arab horse, which is about to become extinct, and Arabs’ wishes and desires in this respect. Even though it has been considered that allotment of half of the revenue to be obtained in such competitions to be constantly organized to winners, and the other half to the municipality would suffice to achieve results expected for both parties, it is appropriate to relegate the matter to the Sanjak Administrative Council for re-negotiation. The 17th of Kânûn Thânî (1)321 (30th of January 1906).

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