Lack of interest forces club to abandon race

Press, 21 October 1987, Page 57

Lack of interest forces club to abandon race

, . By

DAVID McCARTHY

Lack of interest from owners and trainers has resulted in the C2 2080 m Ashley Meats Handicap being abandoned at the North Canterbury Racing Club’s meeting on Monday.

Five nominations were received by closing time on Monday and the club later announced the deletion of the race. “The club felt It was fairer all round to abandon the race at that stage rather than wait for acceptances," said the secretary, Mr David Lloyd. "Depending on acceptances we will probably run an active maiden race making either two 1600 m and two 1200 m races or one middle-distance and three spring events.”

Ten nominations have been received for the Savant 1600, the same number which went to the post last year when Arctic Wolf dominated proceedings. While Spangles and Bloodstone will have some effect on the line-up, with some trainers perhaps waiting for Banks Peninsula in the hope of avoid-

ing the leading southern colt and filly, a reasonable field should still be carded for the feature.

The North Canterbury Club appears to be in an increasingly awkward position with its traditional Labour Day meeting.

It Is now sandwiched between two “feature” days, at Riccarton and Motukarara, which have higher stakes more heavily subsidised by the Racing Authority.

A 19000 C2 1600 m race held at Riccarton and a $lO,OOO 1400 m event is scheduled for Motukarara along with a $13,000 open class middle-distance race.

The Importance of obtaining “special meeting” status at this time of the year is not difficult to appreciate. North Canterbury receives substantial support for its three-year-old race ($9125) but the

total Input from the Authority is less than $25,000, whereas the Banks Peninsula Club receives nearly $50,000 for having a feature day. Stake increases are always welcomed by owners and trainers but understandably clubs not on the roster of feature days feel at a strong disadvantage especially when meetings run close together as Is the case there.

Given that, North Canterbury can be reasonably pleased with the general response to their fields especially among the two-year-olds, which are not catered for at Motukarara. It will be surprising, however, If the club Is not tempted to try and add itself to the roster of featured days In the future, and so regain Its previous status with owners and trainers.