A SIGN OF THE TIMES

NZ Truth, Issue 1293, 18 September 1930, Page 13

A SIGN OF THE TIMES

Stakes Get The Axe j In Waikato (From "N.Z. Truth's" ftorth Island Rep.) DV reducing stakes* for the coming *^ j spring meeting, the Waikato Trotting Club is certainly playing safe. For the corresponding meeting . of 1929 the prize money was £1550, but for next month's affair £1450 is offered — a matter of £100 less. This certainly is a sign of the times, but what owners will think about the matter can best be left to the imagination. One peculiarity about the allotting of the stakes concerns the Frankton Handicap, where, m comparison with this event of 1929, there is £5 less on offer. This amount- has been deducted from the second horse's share, which is now £20 as against £25. It is only reasonable to presume that a better way out would have been to have knocked something oft! the winner's portion. <n In the chief event, the Mark Memorial Handicap, the place-getters receive £30, £10 and £10 respectively less than last year, the biggest., slice coming from this heat. After pruning £10 from, the Hamilton Handicap, £10 from each of the Stewards' and President's Handicaps, they knock the Visitors' Handicap for. £15. Waikato, however, has been generous m the past, and this should not be overlooked when considering the spring schedule. j