POOR SUPPORT BY OWNERS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28930, 25 June 1959, Page 4

POOR SUPPORT BY OWNERS

Warstep Stakes At Riccarton

Poor support given by owners to the Warstep Stakes at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting was mentioned by the chairman. Mr’ G. H. Grigg, at the annual meeting of members of the club yesterday. Only six horses had started in the race, and as three of these were bracketed together it was a four-horse field on the totalisator. said Mr Grigg. The drop in investments both off and on-course resulted in a loss to the club of more than £lOOO on the Warstep Stakes alone.

Mr Grigg recalled that the Warstep Stakes was instituted in 1957 mainly as a result of representations by the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association. which was concerned that there was little encouragement for owners to put fillies and mares into training because of the limited number of races suitable for them. ( Mr Grigg warned that because of the lack of support this year the committee must seriously consider whether or not the race should be continued. Trophy Giver Mr Grigg said that the club was indebted to Dr. M. G. Louisson for giving the trophy presented to the owner of the winner, and members regretted that his generosity was so illrewarded. Mr Grigg reviewed a year of good racing at Riccarton' # There had been top-class visiting *horses at Riccarton in good numbers for principal races, and there had been many stirring contests and exciting finishes. There had been prompt and efficient starting from the new starting gates, and their purchase had been amply justified, said Mr Grigg. The starting gates were a marked improvement on the old stalls, and no operational difficulties had been experienced with them. (

Vagaries in the weather had created a problem during the year in the preparation and maintenance of the tracks at the racecourse. Mr Grigg said. First the drought conditions, and then the period of continuous heavy rain, had made matters particularly difficult for the racecourse caretaken, Mr F. G. Evans and his staff, who were to be commended for their efforts under