CHAMPIONSHIPS IN SYDNEY

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26672, 5 March 1952, Page 8

CHAMPIONSHIPS IN SYDNEY

IMPRESSIONS OF MR A. L. MATSON “The series was a grand success In every way,” said Mr A. L. Matson, president of the New Zealand Trotting Conference. yesterday, after his return to Christchurch from Sydney, where he «t--tended the 1952 Inter-Dominion Trotting Championships. "The New South Wales Trotting Club gave the New Zealand visitors a marvellous time and spent more than £12,000 on entertainments,” Mr Matson continued. “In spite of this, their carnival was a distinct financial success.

"The Australians have some really fine horses, and I would say that Avian Derby, the winner of the final, is equal to the best class we have got here. These days it takes a good horse to win in Australia. The New Zealand horses disappointed. Apparently some of them did not travel too well on the trip across." The admission charges for the championships were 15s for men and 7s for women. The totalisator handled £93.000 on the evening of the final, and on the same evening about four times as much was handled by the bookmakers. On another night £104,000 was handled by the totalisator and an estimated £300,000 by the bookmakers, said Mr Matson. "I attended two three-ctay r sales of trotting bloodstock in Sydney and saw some very well brought-out yearlings." he added. “The highest price paid for a yearling was 1000 guineas. That was for a Hobert Derby colt."