LIMITS ON FIELDS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21764, 13 July 1945, Page 6

LIMITS ON FIELDS

TELESCOPED RACING elimination" projects PRESIDENT’S”PROPOSALS (S.R.) WELLINGTON. July 18. The fart that tho telescoping of rncintf facilitios during the wav lias led to tho enlargement of fields to an unreasonable decree was referred to by tho president of the Racine Conference, Mr. 11. R. Chalmers, in his address at the conference to-day. "Ae in the previous year, totalisator permits allotted to racing clubs were again restricted to 120 days, though later in the season we were given seven additional ordinary permits and . five special patriotic permits for meetings, the profits of which amounted to £24,967, and were given to the national patriotic funds,” he said. “All permits were availed of and on the whole we had a most successful racing season. Fields in many cases were unduly large—this aspect of our racing is giving the executive committee much concern. The number of horses in training is greater than ever and is still steadily increasing. With racing restricted to 120 days a year, it is very difficult to provide enough races for these horses. Of course, these conditions may change when the full number of racing days is restored, but In the meantime, 1 think that clubs should seriously consider restricting fields.

"There are many methods of doing this. Personally. 1 prefer the elimination of the lowest-handicapped horses, balloting being resorted to when there are more horses on the lowest weights than it is necessary to eliminate. Other methods which could he considered, are eliminating horses of four years old and upwards that have never won a race, eliminating horses of four years and upwards that have not run into a place in their last, say, six starts, and by clubs making it a condition that entries for open races will not he taken from horses still eligible for hack ..racek.'^ “This would "not only'tend to ~cdt down large fields, but might: conceivably . be< the cause of throwing out of training many of the indifferent and poor horses now racing. “There is no doubt in my mind that a great number of the horses seen out at race meetings are not of any class. The larger clubs particularly, under existing conditions, should cater for the good horses and not put on hack races in which maiden horses of all ages and description are eligible to enter and compete. “Here I would again express the opinion that clubs should, as far as possible, compile their programmes with a view to cater- . ,g for high-class horses.”