C.J.C. considers classics plan

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32860, 8 March 1972, Page 8

C.J.C. considers classics plan

Proposals by the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association to reduce the classic races in New Zealand had considerable merit, the committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club decided at a meeting yesterday.

However until such time as the NaUonal Racing Authority declare* a policy of making large distributions from its stakes subsidy fund for the particular benefit of classic racing, the committee feels that little progress can be made with the move. The committee, in a statement released after yesterday’s meeting, said that such a major policy change affecting the racing scene cnroughout New Zealand would require a considerable amount of thought and discussion before It could take place. “The Canterbury Jockey Club, however, agrees with the proposal that part of the stakes subsldv fund could, with advantage, be used for the purpose of subsidising classic and other major races,*' the statement said.

SE VIRAL ASMCTS The committee did, however, wish to reply to several aspect* of the report First, the proposal was, because of its derivation, slanted greaUy towards the benefit of the thoroughbred breeders—and while the committee understood such a view, it felt itself primarily charged with serving racing interest* a* a whole it also believed that the decision on such matters should properly rest with th* New Zealand Racing Conference. Second, there were several further aspect* which required the specific attention of the Canterbury Jockey Club, since the proposals and comment* directly affected the club; although ft was not disputed that, largely because of population drift to the north, the greater racing at-

tendances and totallsator turnover there, the club was unable to provide canparable stakes. “The committee does feel strongly that there can be no argument that Riccarton has the finest mile «nd a half track in the country and as such is best fitted to stage races over the Derby distance, even though it is acknowledged that a progression, by way of races over the Guineas distance of a mile in the spring, towards a mid-sum-mer Derby is in general quite a sound proposal. 'However, it is no more fair to say that November is too early to prepare three-years-olds for the Derby distance than it is to say that the New Zealand Derby at Riccarton in the past has received poor support, with the winners over the last 20 years Including Master John, PlkO, Trial Offer, Passive. Syntax. and Dalray, The committee said that the AJ.C. Derby was run about five week* earlier than the Riccarton one, and the V.R.C. Derby was alio run before it. “Thete is also a Queensland Derby, which ranks highly, as well aa the South Australian Derby, and so there is ample Brecedeut for more than one erby in New Zealand. INGUSH NOMENCLATURE "Considerable play is made in the proposal for the adoption of the English classic pattern and while, as ba* already been agreed, there is force in the argument put forward, we are dealing with New Zealand, or more properly Australasia. While it could be fairly said that there should be fewer classic races than at present, *0 it could also be said that there could be more race* than ar* proposed,” the statement said. Th* committee felt that to adhere slavishly to th* English nomenclature aa proposed was not wise. On* and Two Thousand Guineas races formed no part of the Australasian scene, and to the younger generation of Now Zealanders the names conveyed little. -