ASHBURTON STAKES

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30270, 24 October 1963, Page 5

ASHBURTON STAKES

Big Increase On Boxing Day Stakes totalling £6850, an increase of £B5O, will be distributed at the Ashburton Trotting Club’s summer meeting on December 26. The club will run a nine-race programme, the stake for the extra race being £350 for a 2min 19sec class two-mile event for pacers. Stakes for the same eight races which were run 12 months ago have been increased by £5OO, £3OO going to the Ashburton Cup. which will now be worth £l5OO. The limit for this race will be 2min 13sec, the equivalent to 4min 29sec under the old handicapping system. Last year the limit was 4min 31sec. The stake for the Winsiow Handicap, the main race for trotters, has been increased by £lOO to £lOOO. Run over one mile and a half under invitation conditions, it will have a limit of 2min 13sec, although 2min 14sec horses may nominate

The Boxing Day Handicap will now carry a stake of £B5O. £5O more than prevoiusly. The limit is unchanged at 2min 15sec and not faster than 2min 14sec, the equivalent of tain 47sec for 10 furlongs. The Wakanui Handicap, for maiden pacers, will have an additional £5O added to its stake if it is run in divisions. Usually this division race carries a stake of £450. but it will now be worth £5OO. The programme has been approved by the committee of the Ashburton club, but it has yet to be passed by the New Zealand Trotting Conference.

Spinster Scott At Riccarton The 1962 Dominion Handicap winner. Spinster Scott, will race this season from J. S. Shaw's Riccarton team, while Front Line, winner of the Stewards' Handicap at the Addington Easter meeting, will in future be trained at Belfast by C S. Donald. Spinster Scott, which won all of her races in the interests of the Ashburton trainer. A. A. McCormick, who held her on lease, will in future race in the interests of Mr D Fowler, of Timaru. and Mr A. E. Thomson, of Ashburton.