Singapore Impressed Racing Officials

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31942, 20 March 1969, Page 7

Singapore Impressed Racing Officials

(From J. MORRIS “The Press” correspondent with the Asian Conference Party to Tokyo.)

SINGAPORE Singapore has much to teach New Zealand in administration of racing. Members of the New Zealand delegation to the Aslan Conference In Tokyo were amazed at the efficiency shown by the SlngaRore Turf Club In conducting es Derby day meeting at Bukit Tlmah last week.

The conference president (Mr R. A. Whyte) and secretary (Mr A. R. Algie) praised officials for the way they ran the nine-race programme between 1.45 and 6 p.m. It would not be surprising if several innovations for the improvement of racing in New Zealand were introduced as the result of observations of members of the delegation. Stipendiary control, filming of races, starting, track condition, swabbing, the segregation of jockeys from the time they entered the jockeys’ room until after riding in their last race for the day, information supplied the public on the jockeys’ board, and the race book came in for close scrutiny. One aspect of the starting which greatly impressed delegates was a temporary barrier erected before the start of each race about 30 yards behind the starting stalls. It prevented any wayward horse from backing out more than this distance from the stalls. Equally important was a safeguard against any horse dropping its rider from careering round the course. All the preliminaries were held on the inside grass and this was in no small measure responsible for the track being in such excellent racing order after four days of hard racing within a week. At each starting point there was a stout enclosure in which the horses were kept moving until called into line. Each horse was led right into the stalls by an attendant, who wore a safety helmet. STIPENDIARY CONTROL The chief stipendiary steward has power to fine a jockey tip to sSingapores9o (about SNZISO) without bringing the incident before the notice of the judicial committee. A repetition of the offence brings the jockey before the committee for a more severe penalty. Serious offences are considered by the committee, which decides the penalty of a fine or suspension. Mr Algie was impressed by the clarity of the race films, which cover the complete race. SWABBING Swabbing plays an important part in the control of racing in Singapore. Every horse is swabbed before the start of a race and within 10 minutes the saliva test is available to the chief analyst, Dr W. Rintoul, formerly of Scotland. A positive test prevents the horse from starting. Dr Rintoul said it was two years since a positive had been returned. On that occasion three horses were involved from three separate stables and the trainers had been disqualified for life. All winners and other horses nominated by the judicial committee (on Derby day the first four horses in the Derby were included) were immediately: taken to the course hospital

where a urine test was taken. They were quartered there all night before being returned to their trainers. The equipment in the chemical unit of the laboratory is valued at SNZSO,OOO. Items of interest appreciated by patrons on race day included a complete list of riders and scratchings for the day before the first race. The jockeys’ board showed apprentices with their allowance in a different colour; the race book included a complete list of horses with their engagements at the meeting, form for previous four starts of each horse with an index to the earlier races given in detail with weather, track times, etc.; refunds on any horse prevented from starting by a mechanical fault or withdrawn by order of the stewards; a strict adherence to time schedule, and for officials and distinguished guests handcrayoned colours of each horse alongside its name.

Five minutes after the last race a complete list of the results is made available showing dividends and all relevant information, as were the winning numbers of the various sweepstakes held during the day and the winning number of the car given each day.