PAUCITY OF PERMITS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 30, 4 August 1939, Page 13

PAUCITY OF PERMITS

The pressing need for further permits for Southland trotting clubs was stressed at a conference of delegates of Southland clubs on Wednesday and it was decided to write to the Minister of Internal Affairs pointing out the necessity for permits and the request that some move be made. It was held that the position in Southland was rather serious, and attempts to secure additional racing days had met with little success. At the present time Southland had only five days' trotting, and but for the assistance received by the inclusion of light-harness events on racing programmes the present position would be an impossible on:. The introduction of the handicapping system had further increased the difficulties as horses quickly graduated to tight marks, and with so few opportunities it was impossible to provide classes for all grades. . , The fastest class in Southland at the present time was 4.45, two miles, and this meant that after a horse had won four races his assessment gave him very little chance of improving upon his record in the district. The extensive travelling to Canterbury meetings practically compelled owners to dispose of their horses after winning a few races. This was indeed a handicap for it meant that the best-bred pacers and trotters were raced m the district for only a comparatively short time. Southland was well known as a nursery for the breeding of trotting hordes, and Canterbury was the only other district in the Dominion where a greater number of light-harness performers was bred. The financial position of the four Southland clubs justified the granting of extra permits, and it was finally decided to make strenuous efforts to improve the present difficulties in regard to racing dates.