DIVIDED OPINIONS Reactions In U.K. To N.Z. Starting Stalls

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30366, 15 February 1964, Page 5

DIVIDED OPINIONS Reactions In U.K. To N.Z. Starting Stalls

[From the London Correspondent of "The Press”! LONDON. The six-horse Wood’s (New Zealand-type) equipment has been used at Newmarket in the first official demonstration of starting stalls in Britain. Four two-year-olds trained by Mr John Waugh were used, and it took two minutes to persuade each to enter the stalls.

At the first “release.” three; started correctly. The other backed out The result of the demonstration was that newspapers carried headings such as “Stalls Upset the Horses”; "Little Help to Starters”; ‘‘False Start For Stalls—But They Will Come”; “Not An Immediate Success”; “Not Much of a Start.” There is pretty general agreement, however, that starting stalls will soon be a part of British racing—as they are in America, Australia, New Zealand and, now, France. Here is how various critics viewed the initial trial: * ‘The demonstration was certainly a flop, but the film show that followed convinced one that they led to good starts”—“Daily Sketch.” “Rattle And Bang” “If the introduction of starting stalls . . . depended on yesterday's demonstration, it might be postponed indefinitely . . . nothing would induce them to face the business a second time. The rattle and bang, perhaps claustrophobia as well, had made them favour the traditional English start Films a fterwards showed that horses in other countries went into starting stalls, if not willingly. at, least without overwhelming reluctance. Some of the starts shown were beautifully level, and others did not differ from those

started by the English gate.” —“The Times.” “It'took 10 minutes of pulling and pushing to get four two-year-olds into position, and when the gates were released one of them went out through the ‘back door’ . . . it reduced the trial to a farce, but the’ value of the stalls cannot be judged on one showing and I believe that they are essential if Britain is to hold her place in international racing. “That the trials did nothing to convert the opposition is unfortunate, though even the most bigoted viewer realised the stalls cannot be condemned put of hand. The jockey, Peter Robinson, who has ridden from stalls in America, admitted that this system is far safer than the barrier, but he opposes them on the grounds that they lower the standards of jockeyship. This is not borne out, however, by the present European domination of Aus-tralian-born riders.”—“Daily Herald.” “The demonstration was not an unqualified success although the horses that took part had no previous experience from starting from stalls.”—“Daily Mirror.” “The failure of the four to do what was asked of them surprised their trainer . . who had put them in starting stalls without trouble two days previously, but on that occasion in peace and quiet

with no spectators or cameramen present. After more practice these two-year-olds will, no doubt, cease to be apprehensive of starting stalls, but they will have to be trained and they will need competent men on their backs to teach them whait is required. . . . The six-stall gate of New Zealand type we saw on show is excellent for training purposes at a centre like Newmarket but too lengthy to be moved by road from course to course. . . . Major V. Gorton, Jockey Club Inspector of Courses, is of the opinion that if we introduce starting stalls to England, the New Zealand ‘ground-bairi type which is light and mobile, may prove the most appropriate.”— “Daily Telegraph.” The “Yorkshire Post” quoted N. Murless as saying of starting stalls; “I do not like them.” Murless trains at Newmarket.