Stayers not wanted in Hong Kong

Press, 14 August 1978, Page 22

Stayers not wanted in Hong Kong

NZPA Hong Kong The scheduled opening of the Shatin racetrack In Hong Kong’s New Territories on October 7 does not foreshadow a fresh opening of demand for New Zealand thoroughbred stayers. I Officials of the Royal Hong 1 Kong Jockey Club say the club i does not envisage holding races '■ over more than a mile and a i half and there would be very I few mile and half events. I"We*ve tried before to encourage trainers here to develop horses for distance races, but for various reasons the six furlong to one mile races seem most Sopular with them,” said Mr J. 1. Barber, the club’s racing secretary. The new Shatin racecourse will have a grass track of 9.43 furlongs < 1997 m). By comparison Hong Kong’s only current racecourse at Happy Valley on Hong Kong Island has a mile grass track.

Mr Barber said the club took delivery recently of 30 thoroughbreds from New Zealand all of which were now stabled at Shatin and were in good condition.

‘They’re all winners and we hope they will turn out to be an even lot,” he said. “AVe asked for versatile performers and did not want specialised stayers.” Club members paid about SNZIO.SOO for each horse. This put the horses in grade A. a superior category as club members paid out only SNZ63OO for lesser-quality horses from Australia earlier this year. Mr Barber said the price per horse was assessed on the basis of purchase price, transportation to Hong Kong and “keep” since the time of purchase. An average figure was set covering these items and members balloted for ownership. A new owner on the Hong Kong scene when racing begins; at Shatin will be the recentlyformed Australia club. It sue

ceeded in obtaining a horse by ballot and named it ‘Australian Rules.” The New Zealand thorough breds at Shatin are in air conditioned stables. The jockey club Is now installing air condition Ing in the stables of those horses kept at Happy Valley. Jockey club officials said they expected to keep attendance at Shatin on opening day below the ultimate crowd capacity of 35,1)00 people One official said overseas travellers should cheek that travel agents advertising tours to Hong Kong taking in the open Ing of the track were able to guarantee admittance. "Only a few travel firms have been allocated batches of tickets and there could be disappointments.’ one official said.