Use of spurs

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32522, 4 February 1971, Page 10

Use of spurs

Sir, —The published report of the Royal Commission of inquiry into racing says: “The Racing Conference, however, claims that the rules of racing are stringent about excessive use of whips and thus only dummy spurs, or spurs fitted with a brass roller, may now be used.” Does this rule (280) mean that the brass roller is nothing more than a plain disc or dummy rowel? If this is so they are still dummy spurs, so why the need for rule 170 (a) “Uses spurs that in the opinion of the Stewards are too sharp?” Many racegoers throughout New Zealand would welcome an assurance from the Racing Conference that the use of spurs fitted with rowels has now been forbidden in all races throughout the country.—Yours, etc., R. J. GLEN. January 18, 1971. [The secretary of the New Zealand Racing Conference (Mr A. R. Algie) replies: “The rowel type of spur is not permitted. The provision for a penalty to be imposed on a rider is necessary because the spurs that are permitted to be used could be altered by purposeful sharpening. Strict supervision is maintained by stipendiary stewards on the use of spurs. Spurs cannot be used on a two-year-old, and-1 understand that of the horses which race, only about 10 per cent of the riders use spurs.”]