REMODELLED CARDS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 18, 22 January 1937, Page 13

REMODELLED CARDS

WEST CdAST REQUIREMENT

Racing on the West Coast circuit during the recent holidays was not "a success from the financial point of view, and, though adverse weather conditions can be blamed in part, it is asserted that the real trouble lies in the programmes, says the "Star-Sun." The Coast clubs rely largely on Riccarton stables to make their fields and they should frame their programmes in such a way that many of the betterclass hacks who now do their Christmas racing in the south would be attracted to the Coast. The Westland Racing Club's threeday programme, for instance, might be cut down to two days with advantage and a radical change made in the programme. With the limited amount of money the club can afford in stakes, three open-class races a day and a highweight that is open is too ambitious, as the stakes offering elsewhere attract the better-class open horses, with the result that the Coast is left with small fields, which is refleced to a marked degree in the totalisatotr returns. Good-sized fields attract spirited betting and the public do not respond when there is only one dividend. At Hokitika, dividends were piad where there were five starters, but some of the open races failed to attract even five horses. On the first day there were two open six-/urlong events. The Thompson Handicap drew nine acceptors and seven starters, mostly hacks, while the richer Christmas Handicap drew nine acceptors and only three starters. The hack events filled fairly well, but many of the horses would have been ' more at home had they been running in some special novice event. The events for hacks at Hokitika were over seven furlongs and a mile, and the mile races.drew poorer fields. The stakes for the better class hack races must be increased if they are to attract the attention of outside owners. Only by a bold venture can the clubs hope to secure decent returns. If the stakes are there, the horses will follow, with a resultant increase in totalisator receipts. The present stakes are not big enough to attract the openclass horses, and the aim should be to attract good-class hacks. Two open races are enough on any one day.