HACK LIMIT TO STAY SAME

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32661, 17 July 1971, Page 8

HACK LIMIT TO STAY SAME

r (From Our Own Reporter) • WELLINGTON. The Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club yesterday failed to win 1 the approval of the required t number of representatives to I the Racing Conference in getting the hack limit raised ' from $l5OO to $2OOO. ’ It struck strong opposition ; from the South Island and its i fate seemed certain after the , president (Mr R. A. Whyte) re- ’ marked that he did not think it really necessary. • Mr Whyte said North Island r clubs could meet the situation » in the way they framed their i programmes. But if such a resolution were carried he could see trouble for the South Island ‘ where stakes were lower. > Mr Whyte had heard Messrs » P. D. Hall (Canterbury Jockey Club), W. W. Bulman (Banks : Peninsula), F. H. Plunkett (WinI ton), and J. J. Corcoran (Gore) f express opposition to the propo* r sal. Mr Corcoran said his club L was finding difficulty in filling - fields for open sprint races, and the position would worsen if the ’ limit were lifted by $5OO. ’ Stakes in the South Island ’ were more or less static and > hacks would be earning very big weights before they graduated. Mr Bulman said.

Mr Whyte said it was unfair for North Island horses to be pushed into open company after winning only two races, which could happen if a horse won twice at Trentham. He felt there was an argument for a higher limit but he thought it was possible for North island clubs to “get around” such a situation.

A resolution from the executive committee seeking a topweight of 9-0 instead of 8-10 in all races except those for two-year-olds or handicap flat races for maidens, was defeated. With the approval of the representatives, the president withdrew a resolution which would have made it necessary for trainers to advise the secretary of a racing club of the nature of any drug or substance containing a drug administered to a horse within seven days of running in a race, and which would have forbidden a trainer to administer any drug within 48 hours of the race.

Mr Whyte told representatives that more information about the working of a rule along those lines in Australia had recently come to hand and it was felt that some changes should be made.

The conference planned to discuss the matter further with the New Zealand Veterinary Association and might present something In amended form at the next annual meeting or a special conference meeting.

Trainer to shift

“The Press" Special Service CAMBRIDGE. W. W. Townsend, a leading trainer whose assolcatlon with Cambridge goes back to 1939 when his late father, W. Townsend, moved from Takanini to Cambridge, expects to transfer his team to a new property he has bought at Matamata late next week.