ACTION DEPRECATED

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 114, 16 May 1931, Page 21

ACTION DEPRECATED

THE BAN ON1 GELDINGS

FEAR OF DETERIORATION ■. ■■ i \ .' \

"After considering the matter from- all points of view this association 1b of the opinion that the decision of the Australian Jockey Club and the Victoria Racing Club to debar geldings from the classics nfUr 1032 must cause a serious deterioration in the Australian thoroughbred," states tho annual report of the Blood-horse Breeders' Association of Australia, which was presented recently to a meeting of members in Sydney. "A high percentage of colts purchased as yearlings will be left entire unjjl tlicy have been thoroughly tried for racing purposes, and it 'is safe to assume that a large number will never be gelded, thus adding greatly to.' the number o£ undesirable stallions in Australia." ..

Australia, in common with every horse racing and breeding country in the world, was forced, irr order to retain high standards, to import fresh blood from England, the home of the thoroughbred horse, the report goes on to state. England had a large export demand tor stallions, but Australia had none. It was felt that as a test' of racing merit the classics would not be convincing with geldings excluded. Further, it was 'believed- that the new rule would add to. tho already high cost of keeping and training racehorses. Efforts had been made by the committee to influence the ruling bodies to reconsider tiieir decision. However, both the V.R.C. and the A.J.C. were convinced that their action was in the right direction, and the matter would not bo reopened until the practical results of the change were shown.