1961 Inter-Dominion Programme Approved

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29293, 26 August 1960, Page 4

1961 Inter-Dominion Programme Approved

Stakes amounting to £21,000 will be distributed by the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club for championship events only at the twentieth InterDominion Championship series to be run at Addington on February 8, 11, 15, and 18, 1961.

The stakes are equivalent to £28,250 in Australian currency, only £250 less than that paid by the New South Wales Trotting Club last autumn for championship events. The Grand Final was worth £15.000 at Harold Park.

The programme, which has been approved by the New Zealand Trotting Conference, provides for three qualifying heats on each of the first three days. The first series of heats on Wednesday, February 8, will be run over 13 furlongs, the second three heats will be run over 10 furlongs, and the third lot of heats will be run over two miles on Wednesday, February 15. The Grand Final and two consolation races will be run over 13 furlongs on Saturday, February 18. The stake for the Grand Final will be £lO,OOO and a cup valued at £lOO. The nine qualifying heats and two consolation races will all carry a stake of £lOOO. Fourteen horses will start in each qualifying heat, but the club reserves the right to vary the numbers of starters. It is. intended that 12 horses will contest the Grand Final, but the club has the power to select additional runners.

Qualifying Points Four points will be awarded to the winner of each qualifying heat, two to the second horse and one to the third. Three points will be awarded to the horse gaming fastest time provided that it finishes in the first four. The maximum handicap will be 36 yards over 10 furlongs and 48 yards over the other distances. Winners of any races after the declaration of handicaps about December 9 may be rehandicapped for the championship events, but no horse winning qualifying heats will be penalised for the Grand Final.

All nine - qualifying heats will be penalty free, but New Zealand horses winning or running second in the Grand Final will be liable to penalties as though they had won or been placed from their ordinary handicap marks.

Visiting horses from Australia winning less than the guaranteed subsidy will receive the amount by which the stakes won falls short of that sum. The subsidies, which will be paid in New Zealand currency, are: Western Australia, £375 for each horse; South Australia, £300; Victoria,

£275; Tasmania, £275; Queensland, £275; New South Wales, £250. In addition, a number of Australian horses are expected to qualify for additional subsidies from their own States. The classes for the other races on the four days have not yet been decided, but there will be two races for straight-out trotters each day. One will be for intermediate-class and the other for fast-class, trotters. Attractive stakes are expected to be offered for the best horses. It is expected that the club will include the New Zealand Trotting Stakes on the programme for one of the days. This race, run over one mile and a half. Is the only race on the calendar restricted to three-year-old trotters. The New Zealand Welcome Stakes, for two-year-old pacers over 10 furlongs, will be run at the meeting. It is also expected that there will be a race for three and four-year-old pacers. The remaining races will be ordinary handicap events catering for horses just outside the championship classes.