N.Z. TRAINER DISPLEASED

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30568, 10 October 1964, Page 7

N.Z. TRAINER DISPLEASED

Grass Tracks Closed (N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) MELBOURNE, October 9. The New Zealand trainer, J. A. McFarlane, last night criticised Victoria Racing Club officials for closing grass tracks at Flemington yesterday morning. McFarlane described the closure of the tracks on the eve of the biggest carnival in Australia as “a disgrace.” After heavy overnight rain only the sandy track was available at Flemington In the morning. McFarlane refused to work his three-year-old Fairford on the sand because he considered it dangerous. The Victorian horse, Heroic Stone, later got down on his heels in a workout on the track. His injury is causing his connexions concern. When Flemington was unavailable for grass work, McFarlane tried to engage a float to take Fairford to Caulfield. The trainer badly wanted to give the colt a solid gallop in preparation for Saturday’s Caulfield Ginueas. He could not engage a float in time to take the three-year-old across to Caulfield. This was just as well because only the sand track was open at Caulfield. McFarlane said last night: "We didn’t expect the course proper to be open. But the inside grass, although heavy, could have been open for horses racing on Saturday. It would have been the right thing to do.” McFarlane trains Fairford for Mr J. Wattie, who raced Even Stevens. Torrential rain had fallen in Melbourne and had drenched all tracks.