SIX-STRAND BARRIER

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 143, 13 December 1935, Page 8

SIX-STRAND BARRIER

EXPERIMENT AT TRENTHAM

'''Commenting oh the report that the ■Wellington; Racing Club proposes to use'.ia^new. six-strand ..starting barrier at'the'milis'and a quarter post at Trentham.'next- month, a southern critic writes:" > ■.. ■ ■■■■■ "^ "If a new barrier is to be given a trial at Trentham; the mile and a quarter post, is the obvious choice. It is the most difficult starting point on the course* with a great bustle inevitable to secure a position when going out of the straight. A recognition of this trouble induced the club to add a iurlong to,some races which formerly were run ■over; a mile and a quarter. ~'. "The '.subject is-of special interest, as .it;represents ■ Jr. new- system: so far as New Zealand is concerned. From i one angle the.several-strand barrier 1 has much.to recommend it over the] single strand, as now used in the Dominion, but the arguments are not all I on oiie' side.. There can be no doubt that the' several-strand barrier provides a moreveffective check for' horses and riders.' Its strength, however, may in certain conditions be a detriment, as a rider could be; seriously injured if his mount, getting out of control charged into such a barrier. It se^ms that the chief argument in. favour* of this type of barrier is that it will assist starters who.are unable to exercise the necessary control over the. riders in any way.-

"It is hard to imagine. that Mr. P. D. McNab would be an advocate of the change. In his case there is. no need to depart from the single strand, with its reduced risk of accident. Two race meetings have been . held at Riccarton this season, with a total oC fifty-six races. In the' three days of the Grand National Meeting there was no case of the single-strand barrier being broken, and in the four days of, the November carnival there was only one break, in the Metropolitan Handicap on the final day. The late Mr. C. O'Connor was another starter who for many years got the best results with a single strand. He and Mr. McNab have demonstrated that, with proper control, a light fishing line was all that was necessary as a barrier."