GISBORNE'S DISABILITY

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 141, 11 December 1935, Page 8

GISBORNE'S DISABILITY

The fact that the Hacing Conference requires clubs to maintain reasonable training facilities at all times of the year was emphasised by a protest lodged by Gisborne owners and trainers at a meeting called to consider the serious position that is said to Have arisen.

Strong indignation was expressed at the condition of Gisborne Park, which, since the sale of ■ the course to the Borough Council, was alleged to have become dangerous for the preoaration of horses. The club's own course at Makaraka had riot been available for training, except for a few days prior to each meeting.

It was explained that the Park was leased for grazing, and wandering stock created a menace -to the horses using the track, accidents having been narrowly averted.. The whole environment was unsuitable for training high-ly-strung racing stock. One speaker stated that if training facilities were allowed to deteriorate any further the sport in the district would be in an even.more serious plight than during the past two years. Owners who had complained to the Poverty Bay Turf Club committee had been unsympathetically received, and told they could train on the beach.

The meeting decided to appeal to the Racing Conference for an examination of the situation.

Subsequent inquiries disclosed that a meeting of the. Poverty Bay Turf Club's committee had been called to consider proposals for popularising the sport with the public, and encouraging the extension of racing in. the district.