STAKES INCREASED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 207, 2 September 1936, Page 17

STAKES INCREASED.

il-Z. CUP MEETING. TWENTY-EIGHT RACES AFFECTED. DECISION OF COMMITTEE. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") CHRISTCHURCH, this day. The committee of the Canterbury Jockey 'Club has passed the programme for its spring meeting. After a successful Grand National meeting, it was realised that a substantial increase could be expected in prize money for' November, and the committee has handled the position in a manner that will bring general commendation. The total stakes for the four days of the meeting will be £13,425, an increase of £2400, compared with last year. A rise of £225 in the New Zealand Cup was provided for some time ago,.when the conditions of' the race were approved and •V the balance of £2175 has' been spread over 28 races, the only events-not-getting a share being the Welcome Stakes, New , Zealand Derby and New Zealand Oaks, for which nominations had already been taken. , The Stewards' Handicap has been raised £200 to £700, while the Members' Handicap, on the last day, has had a rise of £100, and at £450 is now a good consolation -for horses beaten in the Stewards Handicap. The sprinters also have the Avon Handicap, on the third day, now reduced to six furlongs and with a stake of £300. , , The stayers' races have also been looked after. The Canterbury Cup has gone up to £500, a worthy recognition of a race that caters for the best horses. Ihe Fendalton Handicap has gone up to £450, while £750 will be given to the Metropolitan Handicap, for which the weights will appear after the second day. The two-year-old handicaps have all been raised, the Pioneer Handicap, on the nnal day, going up to £450—a good stake. J-" 1 ® is an extra inducement for the best juveniles to compete at the meeting. The maximum weight will be 9.7, giving a margin of two stone. The Otaio Plate, a mile and a quarter, has received special attention, and with a stake of £400 it will attract the best staying hacks in the Dominion. Part of the stake will take the form of plate to the value of £25. The committee has in mind the building or this event up to a standard when it will in a few years be an outstanding race tor hacks. All the other hack handicaps have been raised to £250. This provides for the winner receiving £175, and probably this is preferable to the larger amount, as £200 to the winner would put a horse out of hack class for one success. With the exception of the New Zealand Cup, the conditions of which were arranged early, the minimum weight for every handicap will be not less than 7.7, while there will be one race each day with a higher minimum. Thus, in the Riccarton Handicap it will be 7.12, whne in the Epsom Handicap, Ashley Hacr: Handicap and Cressy Handicap it will oe 8.0. The whole programme is evidence that the committee has set put on a definite progressive policy, leading on to much higher standard as conditions improve. It is a policy that will assistto check the departure of so many of ths Dominion's good horses to Australia. In the meantime, the programme just passed should attract to Riccarton in A ovember the best performers from all parts of JSew Zealand, for all classes are liberally catorea for.