TROTTING N.Z. Horses May Race On Way To Championships

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31231, 1 December 1966, Page 5

TROTTING N.Z. Horses May Race On Way To Championships

New Zealand horses engaged at the Inter-Dominion Championship meeting in Perth in February may race at the sum mer carnival at Harold Park, Sydney, on their way to Western Australia.

The connexions of several of the New Zealand horses expected to be entered for the Perth carnival have already expressed interest in racing in Sydney on January 13, 20 and 27.

Already Rocky Star, Robin Dundee and Waitaki Hanover have been entered with the Trotting Conference for the

inter-Dominion series, nominations for which will close tomorrow evening. Great Adios is to be entered, while Lordship, Cuddle Doon and Happy Ending are other New Zealand horses likely to be nominated. Mr F. Smith, of Kurow, a part-owner of Waitaki Hanover, and J. Walsh, of Gore, the trainer of Robin Dundee, had discussions with conference officials at Orari on Tuesday regarding travel arrangements for their horses. Mr Smith is keen to race Waitaki Hanover at Harold Park on the way to Perth. There would be the Champion Mobile Pacers’ Free-for-all, run over 131 furlongs on January 13, an invitation race over 11J furlongs on January 20, and the Summer Cup, of 10,000 dollars, run over 13j furlongs on the final night to suit him. The club has made provision for the main races on the first two nights to be divided. Each event will carry a stake of 2000 dollars. May Pay Subsidy If the New Zealand horses race in Sydney, they could prove a tremendous attraction at Harold Park. It is considered possible that the New South Wales Trotting Club may pay an additional subsidy in an effort to attract them. The emergency committee of the Trotting Conference will meet in Christchurch today to consider the question of subsidies for horses engaged at the inter-Dominion carnival. The conference recently levied clubs so that they could pay £6OO towards the expenses of each of three horses. However, it has now been found that the Western Australian Trotting Association will pay subsidies for seven New Zealand horses. The aircraft which will be chartered to take the New Zealand horses to Australia will have only six spaces. The conference today is expected to decide to pay £lBOO toward the charter of the aircraft.

If this is decided, it is expected that efforts will be made to secure an aircraft which will leave New Zealand in the first week of January, after the Auckland Cup and Canterbury Park meetings, which will finish by January 2.

Charter Plans The New Zealand horses could then join horses to be flown from the eastern States of Australian to Perth. Arrangements are being made by the inter-Dominion Trotting Conference for the charter of aircraft. The actual number of aircraft, the departure dates and the route the planes will travel will depend on the final acceptors from the eastern States. It is expected that the aircraft will leave Sydney or Melbourne about one week before the start of the carnival and return within a few days of the final night of the meeting. If necessary the aircraft wull stop at Adelaide. It is not expected that any Stopover in Sydney will prevent the New Zealand horses qualifying for the full subsidy of 1500 dollars which will be paid by the Western Australian association. To be eligible to receive this subsidy horses must return to their own State or New Zealand within 60 days of the end of the carnival. No restrictions are placed on any racing before the start of the J Perth carnival.