FOR BETTER RACING

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 36, 12 February 1931, Page 10

FOR BETTER RACING

[ACTION OP V.R.O.COMMITTEE

The action of the Y.R.C. Committee in changing the conditions of the ■weight-for-*ge races to be run at the forthcoming 'autumn Meeting will be resented'in some quarters, lut it will have the-approval of ■ the majority of the racing' public, states :"The Leader" editorially. Of recent years ajustraiia las been badly off for'high-class ;weight-for-*ge horses, and : there has been *n almost total absence of competition in "tbese= races.' The racing public was becoming weary-of seeing one horse mono*po!ise the rich. weight-for-age.: events, Which,' instead of providing' stirring conjtests, were often without, the semblance ipf competition. .',..'". i In amending, the conditions the "WR.C. has not been actiiated; by any 73Jas against Phar Lap. If Ke wins all 'fclree races it will welcome' his success, ..fcut by including penalties and allowances fin the conditions it is hoped'to infuse some and interest in'them._ The new conditions do not unduly the ■good horse, as the winner of any standard weight-for-age race worth £1000 to the Jwinner is penalised only 71b. Horses that !have never won a weight-for-age race £500 to the winner or handicap worth £1000 to the winner may claim an allowance of 71b if a three-year-old, and 3.41b if more than that age; These conditions show careful thought. A good three-year-old or older horse would lose its-allowance after winning one of these i.a.ce»j;bnt would not become liable to the penalty, as they are not standard weightforage races. The allowance to geldings has also been abolished. It will not make much difference, but the gelding allowance is rather an anachronism, and has already been abolished in New Zealand.