THE TROTTER AND THE PACER

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9095, 14 July 1915, Page 11

THE TROTTER AND THE PACER

“While Mr Hunter’s Gaming Bill was before Parliament,” said Mr J. Howe, president of the Trotting Conference, yesterday, in his annual address, “I beard the debate in the House, and judged what tho opinions of the members were regarding the trotting horse. In discussing his merits as an all-round utility horse and the claims of trotting to a fairer allocation of the new licenses, the general impression seemed to be that the tpurc-galted trotter should be encouraged. Particularly at this time it is well for the racing enthusiasts not to bo too conservative in this matter, for every inducement should be given to tho horse that is best fitted for the needs of the country. The production of speed for speed’s sake should be a secondary consideration. As I have mentioned earlier, a number of our well-bred trotting horses have been sent to the front. As a proof that tho trotting horses are suitable for army remounts, what better do wo require than the fact, that Sir John French, who is so worthily upholding the prestige of the British -Empire, believes in them? For it was only quite recently mentioned in the House that this great cavalry leader uses a standard-bred trotter at the front. If such a, stamp of horse is required by the military department, its production should bo encouraged as strongly as possible. . “After all that tho Conference has done in the past to encourage tho trotter, can anything be more discouraging than to find a club moving in an opposite direction? Some years ago a rule was adopted that where eight races are run in a day them shall be at least two for unhopplei! trotters. Now the club in question proposes to sweep this right out of the code Whether the rule be struck out or not, that power to clubs still exists."