KEEP FLAGS FLYING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 162, 10 July 1940, Page 14

KEEP FLAGS FLYING.

WORLD WAR AND RACING, MR. H. F. NTCOIiI/S VIEWS. N.Z. TROTTING CONFERENCE. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON, this day. Tlie need for endeavour to. keep the race flags flying for the sake of the many hundreds of families dependent for their living on tlie continuance of tlie sport," so long as the diversion did not in any way interfere in war efforts, was stressed by Mr. H. F. Nicoll to-day in his presidential addr-ess to the New Zealand Trotting Conference. "We have many duties ho-re at home," said Mr. Nicoll, "and not the lenst is to keep the trade and business of the country going, and to see that we do all that we are able to help our hoys who are away: to make them and the.irs comfortable in after days. All people must help in tlio great battle of the Empire with whole heart anil mind and by every means ill their power: nevertheless, we should endeavour to keep the race flagis flying for the sake of many hundreds of families dependent for their living upon the continuance of the sport and for the recreation ami change it affords to those workers who take a delight In seeing good horses compete. In this ilast category must be included

the men who arc enlisted, to wliom a day at the races is a tonic worth a. dozen prescriptions. "There are some unthinking people who ■speak hastily, and without consideration, who suggest that all recreations and sports should be abandoned for the duration of the war. Little do such people consider the history or the traditions of the British people to whom the love of and respect for sport Is a deeply ingrained characteristic. In moments of gravest danger Britons have never allowed themselves to he stampeded, and there Is no doubt that in carrying on their usual pastimes, so far ne circumstances would permit, they have found a steadying influence and a stimulant to assist them in facing the great tasks before them. Admiral Prake was found playing a game of howls when sought to take command of the British Fleet, to face one of the most momentous periods in our history. Thle classic Incident has been preserved through, the ages because it reveals the quality and mentality of the true Briton. Therefore, attacks upon sport and recrention are unjustified and definitely are not in the Interests of morale." Instancing the soldiers' love of sport, Mr. Nicoll referred to a cabled report that just after the evacuation of Dunkirk, one body of the men rushed off to see the football Cup final, while another body flocked to Newbury to see the Dorby run, and he concluded by stating that racing men of New Zealand were very far from being anxious to carry on with their sport for one day longer than the authorities consider advisable. It was the determination of the conference not to countenance any action which could be interpreted as a wish to subordinate the interests of the nation to selfish purposes. I HIGHLY COMMENDED. | For bis win in the All-Aged Stakes, Gold Bank has been penalised only one second over a mile and a quarter, but he has been tightened up five seconds over two miles. Obviously his two-mile assessment must have been out of ratio with his sprint marks. Even now the Southlander is in a very favourable position on the handicapping chart. He is on 2.48 for a mile and a quarter, and will receive long starts from horses he beat on level terms at Addlngton. In the All-Aged Stakes, Gold Bank won from the same mark as Pot Luck, Flutus, Marsceres, Horsepower, Dusky Sound, Jesse Owens, Peter Smith and Lightning. Lady. In a two-mile handicap he is still entitled to big concessions from these horses —Pot Luck (14s), Marsceres (12s), Plutus (lis), Renown's Best (10s), Horsepower (9 s), Lightning Lady (9 s), Jesse Owens (8s), and so on. "WILL CARRY ON." "The committee does not contemplate any drastic changes in the running of the club," said Mr. A. L. Matson, the newlyelected president of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club, to a Christchurch pressman. "Our first big job Is to win the war, and everything else must be regarded as a minor matter. "Yet," continued Mr. Matson, "the sport of trotting must go on, and It Is our duty to provide the healthy recreation that thousands of our citizens, including our soldiers, find so helpful in this time of stress. Incidentally, there are thousands whose livelihoods is directly or indirectly connected with racing, Including studmasters with many valuable horses. These men cannot be allowed to go out of business, for there may come a day when the horse may again become a very real factor in the defence of our country. The Metropolitan Trotting Club will still carry on. and oven if we have to come to the level 1 of picnic meetings the public will still have its trotting." NEW ZEALAND SIRES. Prince Pointer, one of the very few sires by Logan Pointer, was represented by three wins at the South Tasmanian Trotting Club's meeting on June 8, and a few days earlier, at the Hobnrt meeting. Great Hope had three winners. Successful candidates by Prince Pointer were Betty Huon, who scored twice, and Duke Pointer. Braeside Lad. Great Chimes and Master Hope were Grwit Hope's representatives. Master Hope beat Ahuriri Rose. by Ahuriri. who in New Zealand was in the same stable as Great Hope, both winning the New Zealand Trotting Cup for .T. Bryce. -At Stratlialbyn, South Australia, this month, Peferwali. one of the best trotters to race in New Zealand, was represented in the list of winners by Peterwah Direct, who won the Trotters' Handicap, two miles. Concliff, who won races in the Dominion for the late W. J. Tomkinson. including the Dunedin Trotting Cup. sired two winners at the same meeting, Betty Cardiff and Franz Finale. Real Guy, sire of many winners In New Zealand, was represented at Harold Park, Sydney, by Biddy Guy, who won the Globe Trotters' Handicap.