TROTTING Only Nine Remits To Conference

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31724, 6 July 1968, Page 7

TROTTING Only Nine Remits To Conference

With only nine remits—four sponsored by the executive —on the order paper, Tuesday’s annual meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Conference in Christchurch looks like being one of the quietest for a long time.

The majority of the remits are unlikely to cause much spirited discussion; but several could cause great problems if they are passed.

with horses engaged in major events deplore the lack of two-mile racing. This has diminished greatly in the last year or two. The Rotorua Trotting Club will sponsor two remits, one seeking to make it the duty of North Island members of the executive to visit one metropolitan and one country meeting in the South Island each season. Conversely South Island members will be required to visit similar meetings in the North Island. The necessity for this seems doubtful, and this is already done on a voluntary basis. The dub also hopes to provide that horses finishing in the first four at a totaliaator meeting shall be induded in the field in the event at which they next are entered subject to advice being received by the secretary of the club. The Bay of Plenty Trotting Club seeks to help the position regarding lack of racing for maiden pacers by adding a new rule whereby dubs must run such a race. There are a few exceptions which are of little consequence. The races are to be provided either as totalisator events, non-totallsator events, or as races at matinee meetings carrying stakes equal to the average paid the previous season at totalisator meetings. Scratchings The executive will sponsor two remits regarding scratchings, both of which should be acceptable. One concerns

doubles races, saying that scratchings in the first leg at day meetings must be made by 9 a.m., and in the case of night meetings by 4 p.m. It is difficult to uy whether the remit allows sufficient flexibility to allow for late scratchings because of sudden deterioration In track conditions. There have been instances where hones with no 'chance of winning because of a sudden change In conditions have been made to start Protection for the public Is more important than the costa Involved In the odd case of a late scratching and consequential refund of Investments. The other remit brought forward at the request of the New Zealand Owners' and Breeders’ Association, says that good reason should be advanced for a scratching made after the right of reentry time has expired. It is felt that some persons have delayed scratching horses until the day of the races when it has been known some days before that this would have to be done. The hearing of inquiries could be reduced in time by the adoption of a change of Rule 380 (4). The new rule provides that evidence can be taken in writing, shorthand or on a tape recorder and transcribed later. At present all evidence is taken on a typewriter, with witnesses signing their statements.

One In thig category Is that to be sponsored by the Waimate Trotting Club. This seeks to make the right of re-entry mandatory, Instead of discretionary as at present In theory the Waimate remit is excellent but In practice tremendous difficulties could occur. The remit is being brought forward in an effort to obtain the maximum number of opportunities for owners and trainers.

Possibly the biggest obstacle could arise where clubs give horses two opportunities on the one day. Horses given the right of re-entry In the first race could not be Included in the field for a later race as another rule says that dual acceptors must be eliminated before balloting or selecting takes place. This is sufficient argument for the Waimate remit to be defeated. The club itself gives some horses two opportunities at its meetings, so it could be against its own interests.

The present system of discretionary use of the right of re-entry works admirably. The executive of the conference has asked clubs to use reentry whenever possible and this has been done extensively. Further complications could arise in the event of two-day meetings when the right of re-entry could be given in say Christchurch for a horse trained in Southland. Such a horse might have to make a long trip with little chance of getting a start; or It could be given insufficient time to travel to the meeting in the event of a fairly late scratching. Distance Racing At present all dubs must Include one two-mile race for pacers in every programme. The Auckland Trotting Club will sponsor a remit changing this rule to allow for clubs to run only a “distance race" of 12 furlongs or greater before November 1. There have always been supporters erf schemes to have races shorter than two miles early in a season when horses are resuming racing after a spell. On the other hand it could be a backward step to make such a change which it could be found is advanced on behalf of a minority group. New Zealand trotting and the sales of our horses have been built up on the great stamina bred In this country. Too often owners and trainers