TROTTING Jackpots Will Be Dropped By Most Trotting Clubs

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32320, 11 June 1970, Page 4

TROTTING Jackpots Will Be Dropped By Most Trotting Clubs

Few trotting clubs sire expected to run jackpots next season. However, a few might continue them on the off-chance that approval is given for some deduction to be taken from the pool to enable this form of betting to pay its way.

Some small clubs have found that it has cost them about $2OO to run the jackpot, while larger clubs have had to pay out up to about $5OO a day when the pool has started with a fairly large sum.

The country trotting clubs of Canterbury ran a jackpot, I which was struck on the second day of the Ashburton ‘meeting on June 1. Ashburton officials announced that had the pool been won on the first day, a fresh jackpot would not have started on the Monday.

The Rangiora Trotting Club ‘decided against starting a jnew jackpot at its winter ■meeting on Saturday. ! The 1970-71 season will ‘start with the Kurow meetiing, which will have a jackpot carrying over from last month’s Oamaru meeting, but it remains to be seen whether it will be continued after the pool has been won. The Auckland Trotting Club will not participate in the Northern trotting clubs’ (jackpot next season. This was announced earlier in the week by the president of the club (Mr R. Lewis). “One of the main reasons for our pulling out,” he said, “is that Alexandra Park crowds build up the pool and then, more often than not, it is struck somewhere else.” Mr Lewis said his committee had made no decision concerning jackpots at the park next season. Clubs received no revenue from them and, at Auckland meetings, they

. cost an average of nearly S5OO ; a night to run. These costs are appreciably higher than 1 at other trotting meetings in ’ the Auckland province. Cost S2OO 1 The secretary of the Cam- ' bridge club (Mr B. K. Heaslip) said jackpot expenses at meetings of his club amounted to about $2OO, about' the same as was spent bv the Thames club, which races at Alexandra Park. Mr Heaslip is the secretary of the clubs’ jackpot committee. He said that, personally, he was disappointed that the Auckland Club had withdrawn from the “combined operation.” Eight jackpots had been won at trotting meetings in the province this season—and they were well spread. Three were struck at Alexandra Park, three at Cambridge and two at Claudelands.

Mr Heaslip felt the jackpot had been successful. At some meetings, a big pool had been mainly responsible for bumper attendances and totalisator figures. Cardigan Bay Because suitable transport arrangements could not be made for Cardigan Bay and Neatlee to return to Auckland after the Nelson meeting, they were brought to Christchurch. They will remain here for some days before being sent north. Up $118,400

Combined totalisator turnover was a record $510,829 at the Nelson Trotting Club’s

two-day winter meeting last Saturday and Monday. This represented an increase of $118,400 over the corresponding meeting 12 months ago. On-course the increase was $26,423, while off-course the increase was $91,977. Amiri Sold Amiri has been sold to Mrs N. Burrell, of Dunedin, and he will have his first start for her in the Third Sefton Handicap at Rangiora on Saturday. A four-year-old gelding by Newport Chief, which has enjoyed considerable success in the last few weeks, he is out of Terrace Hall. He has been a consistent place-getter for his former Springston trainer, R. H. Negus, and he should not be long in maiden company. He will be driven on Saturday by D. G. Jones.

Good Night New Zealand-bred horses won four races at Roosevelt Raceway, New York, the night Good Chase was successful in the $25,000 Margaret Lloyds Memorial Pace in Imin 59 3-ssec. Kimberley Kid (Goodland-Heathmount) won in 2 min 5 3-ssec in a race worth $3750, while Dover Eden (Morris EdenWendover) won in 2min 1 4-5 sec in a race worth $4500. The fourth New Zealand winner was Fandango (Fal-lacy-Deveron), which recorded 2min 6 2-ssec in a race worth $3OOO. Fandango caused a major upset, paying $4O for $2 on the win totalisator. He was driven by D. Insko, who was also successful with Good Chase and Dover Eden.

The next night Diarac (Morano-Concerto) won in 2min 3-ssec in a $12,500 feature race. His win was a surprise, and he paid $27.40 for $2. Another New Zealandbred horse, Leroy, finished a fair fifth to Diarac.