TROTTING 1970 Derby Stake Could Be $10,000

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31726, 9 July 1968, Page 5

TROTTING 1970 Derby Stake Could Be $10,000

A stake of $lO,OOO is envisaged for the 1970 New Zealand Derby Stakes, according to the president of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club (Mr G. W. Blaxall), who yesterday announced special conditions which will in future apply to the race.

The basic stake, to be paid by the club, will be $5OOO, and the remainder will come from .the nomination and payment fees received. This latter amount will exclude the fees paid on behalf of horses not selected to start in the race ,and the sum of $lOOO, which will be paid out of the stake to the nominators of the first four placed horses, said Mr Blaxall. The stake for the Derby has been $5OOO since 1964. The final stake will be divided among the placed horses as follows: winner, 65 per cent; second, 20 per cent; third, 10 per cent; and fourth, 5 per cent 1 The $lOOO to be paid to the

original nominators of the first four placed horses will be divided as follows:—Nominator of winner, $650; second, $200; third, $100; and fourth, $5O. A special clause providing for late entry on the payment of $5OO is also included. This allows horses not nominated or which have been nominated but failed to meet payments as they fall due to be entered for the race. In the event of any horse or horses which have gained entry to the field by payment of the penalty fee of $5OO finishing in the first four, the nominator or nominators of such horse shall not participate in the $lOOO to be divided among the nominators. The $lOOO or the portion of it affected, will be distributed in a manner to be decided by the committee. Payments

Four payments will have to be made before a horse can start in the 1970 Derby. The first, on September 30 of this year, for a fee of $lO, will constitute nomination for the race. Nominations will be made for yearlings born in 1967-68.

The, first payment, of $l5, will be due on August 4, 1969, and a second payment, of $25, will be due on August 3, 1970. The final payment, of $lOO, must be made not later than the time set down for withdrawals for the first day of the New Zealand Cup meeting in 1970.

“The club won’t be taking anything out Of the moneys paid by nominators and owners; all of it will go back to the stake,” said Mr Blaxall.

“It Is quite possible that the stake will be quite a bit in excess of $lO,OOO, especially if one or two owners make the late entry payment of $500.” Mr Blaxall said the committee was adamant that all nominations must be accompanied by the appropriate fee. “Failure to dp this will mean the automatic elimination of the horse and all fees will be forfeited.” “The club hopes that the changes will stimulate interest in the Derby and the breeding industry. They will give greater recognition to those who regularly breed and sell horses.”