TROTTING Club Not Allowed To Cater For Best

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30822, 6 August 1965, Page 5

TROTTING Club Not Allowed To Cater For Best

Permission to race on Monday, October 18, had been granted by the Trotting Conference as long as the club did not include a race for pacers with a 2:11 front. This was the reply of the president of the Metropolitan Club (Mr R. W. Saunders) when asked yesterday why a race for New Zealand Cup class horses had not been included in the programme.

The Metropolitan club originally sought permission to race on Tuesday, October 19, but after the dates committee of the conference had considered objections by the Greymouth club, October 5 was approved. The Metropolitan club then sought another date. After considerable discussion, October 18 was granted. Strong protests against the club being granted October 18

have been lodged by the Forbury Park club, which races on October 16, and there has been objection by some members of the committee of the Oamaru club, which races on October 23 and 25. His club felt a fast-class race could affect the Hannon Memorial Handicap, a rich sprint race run at Oamaru on October 25, said Mr Saunders. His club was most disappointed that it could not run a more attractive programme on October 18, but it did not want to infringe on any established date, especially as the club was using a new permit. There was so much dissatisfaction over dates that next year clubs should have more time in which to prepare answers to objections before the dates committee met, said Mr Saunders. His club wanted to seek dates which would in no way affect other clubs adversely. The club has allocated £6400 in stakes for its meeting on October 18. The Qualifying Handicap, of £l2OO, will be the main race for pacers. It will be run over' 13 furlongs and horses assessed at 2min 12sec and 2min 11 sec will be eligible. This limit should in no way affect the Forbury Park club, which has yet to announce its programme for October 16. Last year this club ran a 2min 13sec main race at the corresponding meeting, with an invitation event one week earlier.

Horses on 2min 14sec and 2min 13sec will race for £lOOO in the October Handicap, rut over 10 furlongs, and 2mii 15sec class horses will race for £9OOO over two miles. There will be a stake of £BOO at tached to the race for 2mir. 16sec horses, which will raw over 10 furlongs. There will be a £6OO race for four-year-olds over 13 furlongs. This race will be restricted to horses which have not won more than two races at the time of starting. Three-year-old non-winners will race over 10 furlongs for a stake of £3OO. Trotters on 2min 17sec and not faster than 2min 15sec will race for £6OO in the Oxford Handicap, which will be run over 13 furlongs. The fast-class trotters will race over the same distance for a stake of £lOOO. The limit for their race will be 2min 14sec. The programme contains eight races and two doubles will be run.