TROTTING Fewer Juvenile Races But Stakes Increase

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31407, 28 June 1967, Page 5

TROTTING Fewer Juvenile Races But Stakes Increase

Although an earlier start was made with racing for two-year-olds, the number of races for this age group fell slightly. This season there were 32 races, including one for trotters, against 33 last term when races for this age group could not be run before November 1.

On the other side of the ledger is shown an increase in stakes amounting to almost £3OOO. This may be because there were four fewer nontotalisator penaltybearing races.

Stakes for races for two-year-olds this season, including trophies, amounted to £19,386 5s compared with £16,550 last term. These figures show the increase in interest in races for the two-year-olds as compared with 1961-62. That season there were only 17 races for two-year-olds and they carried stakes valued at £10,250, slightly more than half of the value of this season’s racing. TRUE VALUE It is difficult at this stage to assess the true value of the early start to two-year-old racing this season. This was restricted to the North Island only and, in the main, to the immediate Auckland and Waikato districts.

The early start attracted some owners and trainers to have their two-year-olds much

more forward than usual in the spring. But the same horses might have geen better served had they been taken along more quietly and reserved for autumn racing as had been the case in other seasons.

The over-all standard in the early spring races for two-year-olds was not considered high; and not many of the early winners did much of note in the autumn.

Haladay, Single Hal and Goodray were three of the early northern winners hailed as budding champions. However, their autumn racing did not arouse much enthusiasm and it will be interesting to see how they fare in restricted age events in the next 12 months and even later when they will be required to contest open handicaps. MORE STARTERS Although there was virtually the same number of races as in the 1965-66 season, there were considerably more two-year-old starters—--128 against 108. This was reflected in two-year-old parades at trials in Canterbury, particularly in the autumn and again when more than 45 horses survived final pay-

ments for the New Zealand Sapling Stakes run at Ashburton in June. Another reason was the early start to the two-year-old season in the north. Some owners and trainers gave their horses an odd race early in the season before putting them aside to mature before being prepared for the late autumn and early winter events.

More than half of the 128 starters among the two-year-olds had three starts or fewer. There were 16 runners which had three starts and the same number with two. Then there were 42 youngsters with a lone- appearance to their credit. TWELVE STARTS Silverdale Chief was the most extensively-raced first season runner with 12 starts for one win and five placings, most of his efforts being in minor events. He won a mere £440 for his fairly consistent efforts.

Forward Star, one of the top-ranked youngsters, had 11 starts for tliree wins and two placings, while Happy Hal and Terraton had 10 starts each, Happy Hal showing the best form of this pair with one win and five placings. Danger Man, Lights Out and Lords all had eight starts, with Danger Man recording one placing and Lords five. Lights Out, which will race in New South Wales from now on, had one win and five placings. Pigeon Post, which recorded four placings was the only runner with seven starts. (To Be Continued)