Racing and trotting Auck. trotting-selection suggestion a piecemeal approach

Press, 13 June 1979, Page 25

Racing and trotting Auck. trotting-selection suggestion a piecemeal approach

By

G. K. YULE

A suggestion by the Auckland Trotting Club that a sub-committee be set up to examine regional control of trotting will give clubs an opportunity to express positive views on programming and the selection of fields at the annual meeting of the Trotting Conference in Timaru on July 5.

The club says that regional control would enable programmes to be framed to give better and more widespread opportunities for horses in training. The proposal appears to be a piecemeal attempt to overcome the present difficulties encountered by owners and trainers when they try to obtain racing opportunities, particularly for slow-class horses.

Efforts have been made in the past to encourage the executive of the conference to take action on the matter but these have attracted no positive reaction.

The executive has always said that as long as programmes conform to the rules, the conference should not interfere and leave their framing as domestic matters for the clubs. The same attitude has been taken regarding the frustrations experienced by owners and trainers in trying to get racing opportunities for their horses. However, the executive has recommended that the clubs give consideration to form shown in races and at registered trials when selecting fields. In practice both attitudes

have proved to be negative.

Some clubs do their best to use form as a guide when selecting fields but others ignore the conference guidelines with the result that horses are frequently eliminated for weeks on end, with some running up doublefigure sequences and dozens failing to get starts in from five to eight successive attempts.

It is obvious that the only satisfactory solution to the problem would be the partial removal of programming from the hands of clubs and the introduction of professional compilation of fields. The Auckland suggestion is that the control of these matters be on a regional basis but a more satisfactory method would be for the whole process to be done centrally. Many club officials are unlikely to agree to such a proposal, with so many of them clinging to what they claim are their rights to organise programmes and fields in a manner considered in the best interests of their own clubs.

In New South Wales, all fields are drawn up by the Trotting Authority, which

about 18 months ago took over many of the duties previously carried out by the New South Wales Trotting Club.

More than 500 meetings are run each season in New South Wales and owners and trainers are critical only infrequently about any lack of opportunities resulting from repeated eliminations.

There pan be little argument against a central control of these matters. Any fragmentation would possibly compound today’s problems and increase costs unnecessarily. Remarks commonplace among owners and trainers suggest that they would be in favour of a professional panel being employed to draw up fields.

The costs could be offset largely by the introduction of a small non-returnable nomination fee of $1 for each entry. No owner could object to such a payment if he was assured that his horse would not be eliminated week after week.

Sir James Barnes, of Dunedin, the president-elect of the conference, has expressed concern that no person holds the position of chief stipen-

diary steward and it is known that he is far from satisfied with the situation associated with the selection of race fields and programming.

The Auckland suggestion will give Sir James an opportunity to give a lead in these matters.

Perhaps he could consider the amalgamation of programming, handicapping, selection of fields, and stipen-diary-steward control under the leadership of a chairman, leaving the other part of conference business to rhe present staff.

Clubs could be given the right to frame a tentative programme and submit a schedule of stakes for each meeting to the professional panel, which could then ensure a smooth flow of horses through the classes. The panel could also select fields and so ensure that horses receive reasonably regular starts. Such a scheme would be more in line with trotting control in other parts of the world and it could do nothing but improve the present situation.

it Motukarara yesterday.