Reputation Of N.Z. Stallions Increasing Overseas

Press, Volume C, Issue 29566, 15 July 1961, Page 5

Reputation Of N.Z. Stallions Increasing Overseas

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, July 14. The export of stallions was a clear indication that the reputation of New Zealand thoroughbreds was gradually being made known further afield, said the president (Mr G. H. Grigg) in his address to delegates to the annual meeting of the New Zealand Racing Conference today. The stallion Khorassan had been purchased for the United States, and Pride of Kildare had gone to Japan and Gibralter to Manila. Should those horses be successful it would prove of great assistance in expanding the overseas market for New Zealand thoroughbreds.

In his report last year he had said few breeders had been prepared to import mares from England. He was pleased to find that during the season 16 mares had been imported to New Zealand and he hoped that those responsible would reap the benefits of their enterprise. During the year certificates of pedigree had been issued for 282 horses, which had been shipped to Australia. Of those, 147 were of racing age, five were brood mares and the rest were yearlings. The conference accounts disclosed that many breeders were still being fined because their returns had not been furnished at the proper time, said Mr Grigg. It was essential that Stud Book records were kept up to date and breeders who failed to observe the regulations had only themselves to blame if they were called upon to pay substantial amounts in late entry fees. Other points from Mr Grigg’s address were:— Amateur Race The race for the Duke of Gloucester Cup last season had been held by the South Canterbury Hunt, and the race this season had been included in the programme of the Egmont-Wanganui Hunt to be run tomorrow. The race next season for the Duke of Gloucester Cup would be run by the Birchwood Hunt. Betting Overseas During the year off-course betting through totalisators had been provided in Western Australia and Victoria and also in Malaya. It was gratifying to realise that other countries were interested in New Zealand's methods of providing totalisator betting avenues for off-course patrons. Riding Master The executive had appointed Mr W. R. Hooton, of Auckland, as riding master as from August 1. 1961. He would attend all training centres in the North Island to educate probationers and apprentices. He felt confident that eventually a marked improvement in the standard of riders would be noticed. It was. perhaps, rather significant that among the best .riders of today were several apprentices. Starting Stalls Congratulations were offered the South Island racing clubs for all deciding to operate the Wood starting •tails. Soon, every race

meeting in the South Island should be operating that particular type of starting stall, 'which had proved so satisfactory. Mr Grigg was concerned that several North Island clubs still used open stalls and e barrier cord. He thought they should make inquiries with a view to starting races with modern equipment. Special Inquiries The executive had power to inquire into and determine matters which otherwise would require action by more than one district committee. Two such inquiries had been held during the last year. Each had related to the automatic disqualification of a horse under a joint interest by reason of a disability under the rules of one of the parties to the joint interest. Neither case had been serious. However, each emphasised the need for all persons entering into a joint interest to be familiar with the provisions of Rule 103 and the effect those could have upon the eligibility of a horse to be trained for or started in any race because of a dis-

ability suffered by one of the parties in the joint interest Substantial losses could be incurred by innocent parties who had to refund stakes and considerable administrative costs bad arisen in cases of that nature. Assistant Stewards During the year the executive had called applications for assistant stipendiary stewards. The executive had been due to make appointments before the annual meeting of the conference. The assistant stipendiary stewards would virtually take over the positions at present filled by patrol stewards. The expenses would be a charge on the general accounts and would increase the levy, but each club’s contribution would be offset by the amount it would have had to pay in fees for patrol stewards. Until now there had been no trained pool from which the conference could fill vacancies in the permanent i panel of stipendiary stewards, but it was understood 1 there would now be a sufficient number of men capable of acting later as full-time stipendiary stewards.