MORE POPULAR-PROGRAMMES WANTED

Evening Star, Issue 19848, 23 April 1928, Page 13

MORE POPULAR-PROGRAMMES WANTED

Conditions have changed a good deal, in racing during the past ten years, oud the executives of some of our clubs have failed to move with the times in the drafting of programmes. It is all very , well to advocate longer distance races than the other clubs are providing, so that stamina in our racchoiv-s and hacks may bo maintained, hut timi principle can bo lett quite saldy lo those clubs which are making imumy, and the clubs that arc up again-.! it should endeavor to cater lor the wishes and requirements of owners. In doing so they■ receive much better support in the shape of nominations, and it tho, handicapping is satisfactory acceptances ami starters. Good invariably attract crowds and good netting; therefore the drafting oi a programme that will suit the classes of horses that can bo possibly attracted to the meeting is one of the most important duties that the executives of our clubs have to attend to. Y'ct when this business comes up for consideration it is oltcu dismissed very quickly by a motion that tho programme ho the same as last year being moved and carried without any discussion. A careful revision of this seasons programme as adopted by tho committee of the Dunedin Jockey Club at tho beginning of the season would undoubtedly improve the popularity of its meetings with owners and trainers.

With so many maiden horsee about at tho beginning of the season the committee would unquestionably find it profitable to classify the hacks available at that season of the year, and, as many of the horees are not ready at the time of tho October Meeting, a race over fi’vo furlongs for hacks would bo a popular move. Though the Dunedin citizens to-day aro not a racing community, interest in tho sport is not quite 'dead yet, and if there is anything that can ho done to popularise the meetings at Wingatui tho committee should bo alert to give some of the suggestions made them from time ,to time a trial. One thing is quite certain, and that is if tho local interest in the club’s meetings does not improve fixtures at Wingatui will soon drop down to second-class country meeting slnndard.