“CHEAP RACING”

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 198, 19 May 1936, Page 15

“CHEAP RACING”

Position in New South Wales “DEPLORABLE,” SAYS RICHARD WOOTTON That racing in New South Wales today is in a deplorable condition, is a view firmly held by Mr. Richard Wootton. He considers that there is far 100 "cheap racing”—meetings at which the prize money is meagre indeed. Mr »» ootton lias had such a long, successful and wide experience of racing that his indictment is of great interest, writes “Vigilant 1“ the Melbourne "Sporting Globe.' He has played a prominent part in the sport m Australia, South Africa and England. “When I contend that racing in New South Wales to-dav is in a deplorable state,” said Mr. Wootton, “I am not referring to Kandwick or to any of the bigger clubs, but to the quantity of cheap racing. It is in the power of the A.J.C. to remedy matters' and to restore the sport to its former high standard, iherc is far too much racing in and about byuney, and a lot of it is of the wrong type. Prize money at the smaller meetings is very poor indeed. I maintain that this cheap racing is a menace to the s P'? l ’p and that the Australian Jockey Clini should take a firm stand in the matter. The ruling body should put the brake on resolutely. “For one race which I won at a provincial meeting recently, the first prize was £l9: for another it was £l4. It an owner believes in paying well and say. £lO to his winning jockey, and £•> to the strapper, there is still the trainer left. At the meetings of one of the clubs I atn referring to, the losing mount fee is £l. At the fixtures of the remainder of these clubs it is 10/-. The winning mount fee is 10 per cent, of the stake. Jockeys’ Problem. “These boys have had to servo an apprenticeship which is as long as in any other occupation. What happens to ninny of them when they have served (heir time? Often an ‘unfashionable rider may have only a single mount at a provincial meeting. That is worth 10/-. He hn s to pay his own railway fare, and if he has a pie and a cup of tea he will be lucky if ho is not out of pocket. “I have had a very wide experience ot racing, and I think that Now South Wales is the only place in the world where jockeys at this class of meeting aie so poorly paid. “Very many of these jockeys marry young. How is a rider, such as I hate described, with a wife and perhaps a child, going Io get on? Il is not fair Io place young mon in such a position one that will appeal to a business man in any other walk of life as utterly unreasonable. Underpaid service in any business is at best a weakness an,l often a real danger. It places temptation in the way of the staff. . “In racing, it is obviously opening the way to corruption and to all the things which real lovers of tile sport abhor. It is not eommonsense to expect evcrylhlnz to go straight. I consider I saw more ‘dead-uns’ nt one of those meetings recently than I ever have in any single day anvwhere before. ’‘Attendances at these meetings are wonderful, but there are undoubtedly a number of unemployed persons living on the game. If anybody who is well-known (ravels by train to a'meeting, he is liable to got. at least half-a-dozen “bites” from people who want their fares. “If these small clubs held fewer meetings and doubled their prize money, it would be highly beneficial to racing, and then when a man took a horse there he would at least receive enough money, to pay his jockey properly and to meet his other expenses without being forced to punt. “England is the home of racing and there they do not cater for people who cannot afford to take part in the sport, and tlie consequence is that everybody is paid well. “I’oll have only to see the big crowds that come to Randwiek at Easter and other big race occasions to realise that the sport, would soon go hack to its former high standard if only it were managed properly. Check on Recovery. “To-day. with the depression over there is plenty of money available for the turf in New' South 'Wales." There are many business men really keen to get back into racing and help it to become what it used to be. There are also a number of newcomers equally keen to participate, but in both cases those people are holding off because they are afraid of the present position. Instead of a revival, we are likely to see a collapse shortly unless reforms arc introduced. Fewer meetings and more’ prize money should be the racing slogan." VICTORIAN PACER Coming New Zealand Visit By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Melbourne, May 18 New Derby, Victoria's leading pacer, will be sent to New Zealand with a view to competing in the New Zealand Trotting Cu p. FOXTON NOMINATIONS The entry of Vivienne was omitted from the hurdle event at the Foxton meeting. NO REHANDICAPS By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, May 18. The Smuggler. Woodl’ul and Roxy, winners at the week-end, will not be rehnndicapped for the Great Northern Hurdles.