Research may provide reasons for small fields

Press, 22 June 1989, Page 41

Research may provide reasons for small fields

By

DAVID McCARTHY

Clubs wondering why they struggle to attract full fields for Class One races in the South Island may gain an insight into the problem from research done for a Conference sub-committee currently considering alternatives to the present class system in racing.

The committee, under the chairmanship of Jack O’Donnell the West Coast representative on the Racing Conference executive, consists of club secretaries, handicappers and representatives of the Trainers’ Association as well as Conference representation.

Research into the present structure by the Canterbury Jockey Club secretary, Dave Lloyd, has produced some surprising statistics. The most notable, perhaps, is that in the nine months of this season under review South Island clubs, which ran the least number of meetings compared to the northern and Central Districts, ran the most Class One races; 64 per cent more than the northern area and 32 per cent more than the Central Districts. The northern area, which conducted the most number of meetings, programmed the least num-

ber of Class One races. The South Island had 112 Class One events, the Central Districts 85 and the northern area 68.

Under review were 265 Class One races, but their numbers may be reduced in the future. The committee has been considering a number of alternatives to the present system and one of those has been weltertype handicaps for Class One horses, a concept which would find approval in most areas of the South Island. These are races for open-class horses but with a higher than present minimum (originally 52kg-53kg was suggested) to discourage the top handicap horses accepting because of weight considerations. This should extend the earning potential of the average open-class galloper struggling to pay his way at present, and produce interesting bett-

ing fields. The welters in some form are likely to find a place in any new structure but the minimum weight may have to be higher than at present contemplated. Mr Lloyd’s survey of results this season (until May) of the 265 open handicaps revealed that 80 per cent had an effective minimum of between 50kg and 52kg with 58 per cent between 51kg and 52kg.

Those figures suggest a higher minimum, perhaps 55kg, might be a better proposition in the long term for welter races to be a success.

Of the 265 races researched only 49 were run with an actual minimum weight of 49kg, and of those 49, 19 had dominant topweights such as Courier Bay, Gatcombe’s Pride or Bonecrusher. Mr Lloyd’s research had also unearthed evi-

dence supporting the contention of handicappers that the present 47kg minimum be raised so that all races be run from a 49kg minimum. Of the 265 races only on 13 occasions did a runner carry less than 49kg. Two were the Auckland and Wellington Cups though both races were affected by dominant topweights. It will be the 1990-91 season before any changes are made to the present system and many are likely to be fine tuning, such as renaming classes according to wins (Cl for one-win horses etc.).

However, some major changes are in the wind. It would seem a safe bet that restriction on the number of open-class races in the South Island, and perhaps greater encouragement for clubs to run open welters, if that proposal is accepted, will be among them.