Women might set the pace

Press, 28 October 1977, Page 1

Women might set the pace

By

G. K. YULE

Races for pacers and trotters in New Zealand might take on a new look in from 12 to 18 months. The executive of the New Zealand Trotting Conference, at a meeting to be held in Christchurch on November 7, will consider whether to grant licences to women to drive at totalisator meetings. “There is nothing in the Rules of Trotting to prevent women from driving in totalisator races,” said the secretary of the Trotting Conference (Mr J. Rowley) yesterday“For some years now we have had special races for women drivers, but there has been no betting on such events,” he said. The conference has received two applications from women for licences

to drive at matinee and trials meetings, and these will be considered next month. Inquiries have been received from other women, who are expected to lodge applications.

His association had given no consideration to whether women should drive against men, said the president of the New Zealand Horsemen’s Association (Mr J. Noble). However, it is known that many professional horsemen are far from enthusiastic about the prospect of driving against women in totalisator races.

The conference has no policy on the granting of licences to women, but it is expected that it will adopt restrictions similar to those which apply to men.

Women will have to be employed full-time in stables and after a specified period they will become eligible for licences to drive at matinee and trials meetings. After holding such a licence for 12 months they would be eligible for promotion to driving in totalisator events.

A number of New Zealand women hold licences to train horses, and in the United States it is common for women to drive against men. In New South Wales the Government - established Trotting Authority last week decided that in 1978, women should be allowed to drive against men, “with no strings attached.” The chairman (Judge AJ. Goran) said that women

in the view of .the authority, would add “promotional value” to the industry. They would be welcomed and’ given every assistance.

Women would be allowed to drive against men in the state, but the authority would encourage clubs to programme races exclusively for them, he said.

Sydney’s top professional reinsman, Kevin Newman, said he felt women were entitled to drive in races.

In a report by Bill Whittaker in the “Sydney Morning Herald,” Newman said: “Good luck to the women. They couldn’t be any worse than a percentage of the 3000 male drivers licensed by the New South Wales Trotting Club.”