BRUSH HURDLE RACES

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 21, 25 July 1933, Page 6

BRUSH HURDLE RACES

A.J.C.'S CHANGED POLICY

(From "Vedette.") SYDNEY, July 20. , After August 1 Sydney racecourses will be equipped with brush hurdles instead of the old standard battens that have been in use for years. The change is being made in order to endeavour to popularise hurdle-racing. ■ The change is really, revolutionary, for distances are to be curtailed, too, for the various classes of' horses; the A.J.C. altering the rules at a meeting of the committee" this '■week.' Heretofore no hurdle race could be run over n shorter distance than two miles. It is now proposed to have mile!'and-'d half hurdle . races: for maidens, a; mile and three-quarters for improvers, and two miles for the open class. , In .part the change was forced by the attitude of the former pony clubs, which had not included hurdle races on theirprogrammes. Now there will be. hurdle races on ■at least-' 50 per cent, of the programmes of all A.J.C, metropolitan racing clubs; except Ascot and Kensington. The courses at the two last-men-tioned places are too small for jumping races', sp.'the^ clubs "willI..be-' compelled to stage jumpersv flat races of. equal, number and of not shorter distance than a mile-aiuL-a quarter.. ; . The new brush hurdles are to be three feet three inches high measured vertically, and the nine i up lies of brush at the top: is to be of the thickness of four inches. '■ Generally the scheme ,is favoured, although some of ,the old .trainers are objectors. It is considered' that a larger number of horses will be schooled, for the shorter distances'-; will"- appeal to owners and' trainers.. 'Horses wlio run out of their class should then be equal to winning over two hiilc6J'' i / ■

The A.J.C. Meeting,at .Warwick Farm on August 5 will inaugurate the change. .'