TROTTING "Mobile Barrier Gives Public Better Run"

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31740, 25 July 1968, Page 5

TROTTING "Mobile Barrier Gives Public Better Run "

The use of the mobile barrier gives the betting public “a better run for its money,” according to the retiring president (Mr H. F. Butland) in his report presented to members at the annual meeting of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club, yesterday.

The committee of the club was firmly of this opinion, said Mr Butland, and, as a result, the club had continued its policy of providing as many starts as possible from behind the barrier.

During the year the barrier was used for seven of the 15 races run for trotters, and for 29 of 30 races run for pacers.

The club also continued to provide for and support the education of young trotters. The varied programmes during the year included a pen-alty-free totalisator race for two-year-old trotters at the May meeting, said Mr Butland. There was a spirited finish between the first and second horses and that alone justified the inclusion and continuation of the event. Trotters Helped

The penalty-free Conference Handicap, for three-year-old trotters, was also a great success and had become an established race on the programme. Fifteen races for trotters were included in the five programmes as part of the club’s policy of encouraging the trotter, said Mr Butland.

The club’s profit of $3978 was most pleasing in view of the fact that the T.A.B. distribution was based on only four meetings in the previous year. On-course turnover was the third highest for a five-meet-ing year, and off-course figures were a record, being

some $70,000 above the previous best.

Record Turnover

The combined on and offcourse turnover exceeded slm and was the highest recorded by the club, said Mr Butland. He attributed the high off-course turnover to the fact that the club raced on two mid-week nights, which resulted in better figures than when the . club raced on a Saturday against competition from other clubs. Attendances and on-course figures were not as high on week nights as on a Saturday. Mr Butland said that of the seven major trotting clubs, Canterbury Park held third position on a daily average of stakes distribution and oncourse turnover.

Although the club had had a record off-course turnover, it held only sixth position on the list in this section. Stakes had averaged $13,520 a day and as a successful season had been experienced, the club will be in a position to at least maintain stakes in the coming season. Its aim would be to provide interesting, diversified programmes with stake-money at the highest level practicable. Night Meetings There had been criticism of the club because it held most of its meetings at night. It was difficult to justify a return to day racing, particularly in view of the marked increase in attendances and turnovers at the club’s May meetings. The club will hold four night meetings next season—on Wednesday, January 1,

Thursday, January 2, Saturday, January 25, and Saturday, May 24. The club will also race on Anzac Day, when the meeting will be held in the afternoon and early evening. Among innovations for the new season, Mr Butland mentioned the filming of races at Addington Raceway. This would be introduced in conjunction with the other two clubs racing on the course. It had been decided that television cameras would be used.