Heat Stakes Reduced For Dunedin Cup

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30312, 12 December 1963, Page 4

Heat Stakes Reduced For Dunedin Cup

Horses assessed as slow as 2min 13sec will be eligible to compete in the Dunedin Festival Cup, which will be run by the Forbury Park Trotting Club on January 25 and 30 and February 1 next.

The club has rather surprisingly reduced by £5OO the total stakes for the five races associated with the Dunedin Festival Cup, but the stake for the final remains unchanged at £2500 and a cup valued at £l5O. The stakes for the qualifying races run over 13 furlongs and 108 yards have been reduced by £2OO to £lOOO, while the stake for the Consolation Race has been reduced by £lOO to £llOO. The Dunedin Festival Cup was started in 1962 by the Forbury club, the race being run on lines similar to that of the Inter-Dominion Championship series. It was expected that the total stakes for next year's series would be greater than the £BlOO offered last summer.

The meeting last summer was not quite as successful as for the previous year, due mainly to the heavy casualties among the fast-class pacers. However, by letting this year's limit out the dub should be able to draw much stronger and probably more open fields. The reduction in stakes for the middle-distance qualifying heats is unlikely to be looked or favourably by the owners of 2min 12sec and 2tnin 13sec horses, which will receive reassessment of t‘..eir ordinary handicap marks as a result of wins.

The chto is to be commended for letting the limit out in the Dunedin Festival Cup, but the drop in stakes for the contest is completely out of

character with the progressive policy adopted since the start of night trotting in Dunedin. Once again the club will select the 14 horses to contest each qualifying heat. The field for the final will be selected by the committee, with consideration being given to horses gaining points in the qualifying heats.

Should the number of acceptors for the Consolation Race be less than 14, the committee reserves the right to transfer to this race any horse or horses which might have become eligible through being placed on the first two nights of the meeting.

The owners of horses on 2min 12sec and 2min 13sec are advised to nominate for other suitable classes on the programme.

The total stakes for the three nights remains unchanged from last year at £20,250. plus a cup valued at £l5O. There has been some slight shuffling in classes, the most notable change being in the Mornington Handicap, the main race for trotters on the last night of the meeting. This event will be run under invitation conditions over 13 furlongs and 108 yards. The stake will be £l2OO, compared with £B5O for a slower class last season.

Races normally run over 13 furlongs will be run over an extra 108 yards. This will give horses an additional straight run before reaching the first bend and should do much to minimise interference in capacity fields.