Ring-in unlikely in N.Z.

Press, 30 August 1984, Page 28

Ring-in unlikely in N.Z.

PA Wellington A racehorse ring-in similar to the Fine Cotton debacle which has rocked the Australian racing industry is unlikely in New Zealand. The big-money incentive crucial to such a daring act does not exist, racing administrators believe. The closer-knit racing community in New Zealand would make such a “sting” difficult. But it could happen. The conference is taking the Australian incident seriously, and may review its security measures. There have been cases of wrong horses starting in a race, though not like the alleged swap of the maiden, Fine Cotton, for the open class sprinter, Bold Personality, at Eagle Farm, Brisbane. New Zealand cases have been more accidental than deliberate attempts to defraud the system. This week an inquiry into a horse running under another name comes before the New Zealand Racing Conference but it occurred at a trials meeting with no betting involved and ap-

pears to be nothing more than an oversight.

The conference’s secre-tary-manager, Mr Hafford Poland, said: “Precautions are taken against ring-ins but where big money is at stake there will always be someone out to beat the system. “Probably the biggest thing we have going for us is that we have a closer-knit racing community than in Australia.

“It is quite amazing how racing folk can identify horses at a glance. I’m sure it would be difficult to slip a ring-in past most racing people without some sort of inquiry.” All foals in New Zealand are branded when they are weaned.

Registration papers showing sex, colour, white markings and fire brands must be lodged with the conference no later than July 31 following foaling. The same markings are shown on all forms concerning that particular horse for the rest of its life. Each horse is examined by?a stipendiary steward at or before its first race to

ensure that markings correspond with those on the registration form.

Horses are not inspected at each start but the conference makes spot checks regularly. Usually up to half a dozen horses at each meeting are checked.

Mr Russell Collins, the conference’s promotions officer, said the conference was taking the Australian scandal seriously.

“We will wait until we see the official report, but we may have to tighten our. own security,” he said.

He also conceded that a ring-in case could occur in New Zealand but doubts that there is the incentive.

“With our tote system any substantial bet would immediately lower the price so that any huge collect, as in Australia, would not be possible,” he said.

“There’s certainly no way you could be looking, at a ?1 million payout, as tjjy were over there.”