TROTTING Opposition To Changed Tinies Regretted

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29262, 21 July 1960, Page 5

TROTTING Opposition To Changed Tinies Regretted

Regret that the club had not been able to start racing at 1.30 pan. and finish at 6 p.m. at its New Year meeting was expressed by the retiring president (Mr H. T. Fuller) at the annual meeting of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club yesterday. When the idea had first been considered, discussions had been held with the Christchurch Transport Board, but strong opposition had been met, said Mr Fuller. Then further opposition from associate bodies had made the club decide not to go ahead.

It had reverted to the usual first-race starting time of 11.30 a.m., with the last race at 4.30 pan. The committee had been most disappointed that so much opposition had been received as it was felt that the alteration would have been in the interests of the club and trotting generally. The proposed change would only have been a trial at the last New Year meeting and it would not have been put into effect for the club’s other two meetings. However, had it been successful, it could have become permanent for New Year meetings.

Attendances Increase Attendances during the year had shown an increase over the previous season of 2100, and this increase had been. reflected in a rise in totalisator turnover. On-course turnover had amounted to slightly less than £343,000, against £315,000 the previous year. Off-course betting -had amounted to more than £165,000, against £149,000. The combined increase in betting had been £44,000. The combined on and off-course total had been the highest since the 1955-56 season, said Mr Fuller. Stakes had been £BBO lower than the total paid during the previous year. The committee had felt that in view Of, the small profit shown in the accounts tabled 12 months ago and the rising costs of operation, that a slight reduction in stakes was prudent. That had been done mainly by loosening classes. With the prospects of an increased distribution of profits of the Totalisator Agency Board and the profits shown in the accounts for the last 12 months, the incoming committee would not reduce stakes below last year’s level, but would, in fact, consider increasing them slightly. A saddle race had been included in the programme for the club’s winter meeting. That had created such interest among patrons, owners and trainers that it was decided, because of large nominations, the event should be run in divisions. The Canterbury Trotting Owners’ and Breeders’ Association had included a saddle event at their trials held just before the meeting, but this had resulted in a bad accident eliminating most of the. field. However, the race itself had been most successful and in no small way it had contributed to the increase in totalisator turnover and attendance at the meeting, said Mr Fuller. A feature of the, club’s racing

during the season had been the world record established by Caduceus of 2min 31 4-ssec for 10 furlongs when he had won the Au Revoir Handicap at the New Year meeting. The club had applied a condition to the race that an additional £250 would be paid to the horse with the best net time, provided it was better than Thelma Globe’s world record of 2tnin 32 3-ssec. The race drew a field of 19 and Caduceus had started from 66 yards. That had been the champion'’s last start in New Zealand before his departure for Australia where he won the InterDominion Championship Grand Final.