Stake increases sought

Press, 4 August 1983, Page 24

Stake increases sought

PA Auckland Owners and trainers would prefer substantial rises in stakes for lower grade races than for major events, according to a leading figure in the New Zealand Trainers’ Association. The Takanini trainer, Cliff Fenwick, who is president of the Auckland and Waikato branch of the association, was commenting on the stake increases announced by the New Zealand Racing Conference.

“These are all very well,” he said yesterday, “but the feeling of our members is that the purpose of them is to try to keep New Zealand’s best horses in New Zealand — and it won’t

succeed. “They (racing clubs) are trying to enter into a stakes race with Australia to curb the almost year-round migration of our horses to their major carnivals. “They will never stop it. Australia will always be able to offer much more money and getting there has never been easier." Fenwick said it was doubtful whether the $50,000 increase in the stake for the DB Auckland Cup — bringing it to $200,000 — would mean much to the winning owner.

“He’s won the Auckland Cup, that’s what matters most. But, believe me, the owner and the trainer cer-

tainly show an interest in the stake for the Cup Day Maiden.”

This race was worth $2700, with $1750 to the winner, at the last A.R.C. summer meeting. The stake next Auckland Cup day, January 2, will be $3300. The need, said Fenwick, was for greater attention to be paid to the so-called minor races which make up the bulk of programmes, “to make racing more viable for its participants — owners, trainers, jockeys and others.” “The low stakes level in low and middle-grade races,” he said, “is creating a host of problems in racing.”