Conference approves handicap changes

Press, 6 October 1987, Page 52

Conference approves handicap changes

By

JEFF SCOTT

The days of top young pacers not being assessed beyond C 3 (two-year-old) and C 6 (three-year-old) if they continue to win against their respective age group, are over.

The executive of the New Zealand Harness Racing Conference approved an amendment late last week, after a recommendation from the Conference handicapper, Mr Wayne Reid. The executive felt the old assessments were to the advantage of only the best in each age group and were a distinct disadvantage to all other two and three-year-olds. “While the restricted assessments meant our top two and three-year-olds were less likely to be sold overseas, it resulted in many of the others being sold as they kept meeting the best on level marks with little prospect of winning,” said Mr Reid. Under the old system,

the former top two and three-year-old, • Race Ruler, began the season with a second at last Thursday’s Kumeu oncourse meeting on a C 8 assessment, despite having won 18 races in his first two seasons of competition. He gained two penalty wins past the C 6 mark for winning two three and four-year-old races last term. The old system of a two-year-old being penalised for every second win has been reintroduced. A three-year-old, like any older horse, will be penalised for every win. "A three-year-old can again qualify for one of the open class cups or just keep winning against his

age group,” said Mr Reid. Tuapeka Knight, last season’s champion two-year-old, will begin the season at Friday’s Te Awamutu meeting on a C 3 assessment having been advantaged by the former system when winning nine of his 10 starts last term. Die Ashburton reinsman, Bob Cameron, has been engaged to drive the colt throughout this season and travelled north to handle Tuapeka Knight at the Pukekohe trials on Sunday when the horse ran his closing 800 m in 595. Full trial fields The Conference executive also passed an amendment to allow full fields to be carded for CO events at all official trials.

Earlier this year the number was restricted to one line only of the front-line safety limit for each course. Assistance for Southland Because there are only nine licensed junior reinsmen in Southland this season, the executive has given the province dispensation, for this season only, to allow horsemen up to 25 years of age to compete in races restricted to junior drivers. One such race has already been deleted from a club programme. However, only licensed junior horsemen will be eligible to gain points in the Air New Zealand Junior Drivers’ Championshio^——