TROTTING Divided Handicap Racing Considered

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32035, 9 July 1969, Page 5

TROTTING Divided Handicap Racing Considered

“The Press" Special Service ROTORUA. The possibility of introducing divided handicap racing such as was used in other countries, in particular Australia, was being investigated by the handicapping committee, the retiring president (Mr A. J. Nicoll) said in his report to the annual meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Conference in Rotorua yesterday.

The increase in the number of younger horses being purchased by overseas interests was causing concern, Mr Nicoll said.

The overseas sales of New Zealand-bred horses were “generally beneficial to the sport.” “But they could bring aoout a serious position if purchasers continued taking younger horses which normally would graduate to faster classes, and upon which the spectator appeal is so dependant,” he said.

‘lt has been noticeable that where previously Americans were buying aged horses, they are now attracting some of our best four-year-olds, which, in the normal course, would provide top-class racing for at least one or two more seasons in this country.”

Mr Nicoll said that the executive of the conference was watching the position closely and the handicapping committee was investigating the possibility of improving the position. One of the results of the growth of overseas sales was the increase in the number of mares being bred from. About 2700 mares had been served this season, compared with 1788 five years ago. As a result of the lifting of restrictions on the importation of stallions and mares, there had already been an influx of stallions, which would enable breeders to be more selective in their choice of sires.

Other points from Mr Nieoll’s report were: The rules of trotting will be redrafted. Efforts will be made to simplify and shorten them. It is 19 years since the present rules were drafted and many amendments and additions have been made. Several anomalies and ambiguities have come to light Inquiry The Government commission to inquire into all aspects of racing and trotting was welcomed by the conference. Trotting will have the opportunity of putting claims for reduced taxation, extra permits, quinella betting, lowering the betting age and other advances.

Mr Nicoll told delegates- he was certain the commission would not be misled by the unqualified claims of a few vocal persons who had had much to say in the last few months. Branding The introduction of lip tattooing as a means of identification has been postponed until freeze branding has been investigated.

The introduction of freeze branding, which was quite painless and in which the pigment was bleached out of the hair, appeared to have enormous possibilities, Mr Nicol said.

The conference originally thought that lip-tattooing was the ideal method of identification, but unfortunately the markings on some recent arrivals from the United

States showed signs of deterioration.

However, the United States Trotting Association had no intention of dropping lip tattooing. Permits A request to clubs for applications for new permits resulted in an extra 54 being sought Mr Nicoll said that in his experience, extending over 45 years, he had not known a time when there was not a demand for extra permits.

“It is incredible that such a state of affairs should exist, and we cannot but believe that the Cabinet when they further consider our plight, will grant us substantial relief,” he said. Some clubs had expressed a willingness to race in the winter months, which would help solve the problem of a short season. The executive felt that it was not in the interests of trotting to force a club to shift its permit from November or February to June or July. < T.A.B. Turnover TAB. turnover for the year ended July 31 was estimated at $75.6m, an increase of about 1.46 per cent over the previous year. The board’s profit for the year is expected to be at least slm more than the $1,894,260 of last year because of the 2.68 per cent extra commission on doubles betting which has operated since August 1 last Off-course betting or trotting meetings amounted to $19,632,314, a slight decrease on the $19,672,493 of last year, when the Inter-Domin-ion Championship series was run in Auckland. The decrease was similar to the pattern of 1966, the year after the series was run at Forbury Park, and was not considered significant