TROTTING Arita would have won trophy on consistency

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32836, 9 February 1972, Page 8

TROTTING Arita would have won trophy on consistency

Had points been awarded on the same basis as for the Dunedin Festival Cup heats, Arita would have won the $lOO trophy awarded to the owner of the horse gaining most points in the three races of the Festival Trotters’ Championship.

Four points were awarded to the winner of each of the three races, with three going to the horse finishing second, two to the third, and one to the fourth. On that basis, the trophy was awarded to Bambi with seven points—four for his win, three for his second, and none for his ninth. Aronmot with a win, a third, and a ninth had six points, with Arita third with five points, resulting from a second, a third, and a fifth. Johnny Fling and Precocious shared fourth position with four points. Precocious had a second, fourth, and a sixth from her three starts, while Johnny Fling had a win and two sevenths.

Had a system similar to that used for pacers at Forbury Park been adopted, Arita would have been the top scorer of points with 32, one more than Bambi. Third place would have been shared by Aronmot and Precocious, with 30, followed by Johnny Fling with 28, Marius with 27, Fri with 26, Mighty Chief with 20, and Jason McCord with 13.

The system used for pacers lays emphasis on consistent racing through a series, Arita recorded a second, a third, and a fifth, against a win, a second, and a ninth by Bambi. INTRODUCTION

When the new system was introduced last season, it was used first in Melbourne where there was general approval. It was then used at the Inter-Dominion series at Addington Raceway where it was again considered more satisfactory than the old system, although there was some criticism that Radiant Globe did not secure a start in the final because of his inability to start in one heat. The system used in the Festival Cup was criticised in many quarters, and even some club officials asserted that under the old system a better final field would have resulted.

Under the old system of points, 12 runners would have had to be considered for the final. Their points would have been Manaroa, eight; Manawaru, six; Royal Ascot, five and a half; Monarrg, four; Black Label, Globe Bay, three; Sassenach, two and a half; Rain Again, Rauka Lad, Walk Alone, two; Forest King, Valencia, one.

Had the field been restricted to 10 horses, Valencia and Waitaki Electr would have been dropped from those which contested the $5500 final on Saturday and

their places would have been taken by Rauka Lad and Sassenach. Had this eventuated, the club would have had one more totalisator number in both the main event and the consolation race, although rieither would have been of three-dividend proportions. DEBATABLE However, it can be debated whether a disqualification and a third by Rauka Lad entitles him to a start in the final ahead of Waitaki Elect, which recorded two fifths in the heats; or whether Sassenach, with a dead-heat for second and a ninth, should have been preferred to Valen-

cia, which returned a sixth and a fourth.

In theory, at least, the new system is far superior to that investigated and rejected by trotting authorities in New Zealand and Australia. Its emphasis on consistency of performance throughout a series must be considered more satisfactory in the eyes of the public, as well as owners and trainers. No matter what method of awarding points is used, there will be critics—but it would be most unsatisfactory if the Trotting Conference allows clubs to revert to the old system, which was tried for so many years and found wanting.