TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3518, 16 August 1921, Page 39

TALK OF THE DAY.

B» Sentinel. i A POPULAR SPORT. If further proof was required as evidence of Hie great popularity which light harness racing enjoys it could be obtained at the meeting winch took place at Addington last week. The meeting opened under very adverse circumstances. Heavy rain had made the track a perfect quagmire, but the fact did not deter a great attendance from viewing the racing and supporting their fancy with just as great a vim as if the card was got off under a genial sun and with perfect going. A sloppy and greasy track is the last state ef going that can be desired for light harness racing, particularly for hobbled horses. It upsets form, and makes a mud-actor the keynote of the situation. Furthermore it imparts a danger to the running, and it looks safer to ride over the Ric-carton country in preference to riding a hobbled horse on a sloppy, greasy track. Despite all these drawbacks the interest was as keen as possible. The totalisator was stormed race after race; in fact, the investments displayed an increase over the amount registered on the corresponding clay of last year’s meeting. When a sport lias progress and grip its adherents so strongly that they, under the most adverse circumstance —practically dining off plates turned upside down—give yeoman assistance in the way of support nothing further need be said as to trotting being the sport of the people. It is strange as frequently noted that the leaders indentified with the thoroughbred cannot bring themselves to regard light harness racing as a sport at all, but rather hold it as a burlesque on the real thing. Still there it is, and no doubt the reason why it is so popular with such a vast following is because it is easier to follow than flat-racing. Plenty of people can tell the apparent difference' between a 2.25 and 2.30 horse, but they are lost when it comes to flat racing and forming an idea us to the value o£ a handicap based on the avoirdupois measure. The greatest asset held by light harness sport, however, consists in the fact that the people see far and away more for their money than they do at Riccarton. At Addington the fields pass the stands two or three times during the course of a race and never get beyond the range of ordinary vision. It is easy to see why under such circumstances trotting has gathered tremendous popularity, - which apparently has not by any means reached its full strength. The sport will not, however, reach its greatest development so long as clubs are content to race on saucer tracks, which makes the luck of a few just as important as the handicap. When the Addington Club transfers the scene of its operations to new quarters it is to be hoped that in the best interests of sport and the important development of speed it will make a good wide track, getting as near a mile in circumference as possible, so that the cracks of the day can have a fair opportunity to e-how how they compare with the parent stool; in America, and this will never be possible on a small track which supplies more turns than the necessary straight away stretches, which give* a horse opportunity to gather and hold a high rate of speed. TTIE KICCARTOX RASPERS. Riccarton has always been recognised as the most formidable cross-country course in Xew Zealand, and in the old days there was no questioning the fact that such was •he case. Nowadays those who take a sear in tire saddle for a cross-country race much prefer to ride over Riccarton than at 'v i till, end h familiarity of both lines o; country the writer agrees with the- above opinion. Landing rather too early at Riccarton a few days ago, too early for training opr rations owing to a stiff frost, it was decided to walk the course. Fence after fence was examined from take-off to kind ing. and*a- more beautifully-constructed line of country one could not wish to see. C’utts’ fence was the iii h approached, and it was found to have been si;cared of some, of its old-time height, but it still takes a lot of doing. { t stands about sft of stiff brush tha; has to e jumped. There is a yield, but a horse that does not rise to the occasion is sure to be passed. Next comes a sod wall, which is 3ft 6in, but not a particularly formidable jump. Another brush f- nce leads t-o the kennels double, of which the first leg is a stiff brush similar to the obstacle at Outts’ corner, and is followed by an easy-secured log. which has 1 een ji di io isly v lem-I in order to minimise tlie risk of a horse running off. The fence approaching the home turn is modelled on th.- same lines as the ob.si.aclc at butts corner, and al-o requires jumping, particularly after crossing the "three miles which .separates a field from the stoiiitig to that stagi' of the proceedings, and supplies yet, another half mile to go. It is good, fair, yet formidable country that r. quires doing, a fair test of the ability of a steeplechaser, but any horse with any pretension* to cross-country fame would have no great difficulty in getting the ci.nr-p. Some of the fences may measurehigh. bur tin- two sod wall* and the fence at <■!!-' corner and its full brother” : ome turn an t iie most fonnid- .■ ' : b m b;. n: minim b on the I'oOild to set The ground between the f i - 1 ie even!:, t going, formed by a natural turf which stands to-day as if when Ttsrr-."! in (dm -me on the map as ;i racecourse. SiTI-TA X't F, OR SHADOW. The d lee;."’ ■ eoiepii mg the conference of f-'outhb.nd Racing Club* did not, pin-... themselves in it pa 1 1 : --has ! - good light v. ecu they insisted that if .dr MTvor applied for the position of starter he should at once drop his position as private trainer t-> Mr W Stone’s stable. Apparently it is held that a person who holds the position of trainer is apt to favour the stable f*.r which he has been acting. In fact, it is difficult to place any other construction on the views hold by the southern conference.

wmcn does not apparently hold the coundone© vviiich legitimate sport is supposed i to foster in its adherents. In tne event of | Air Ai'ivoi being' appointed he would not in ; ad probability take up active work until about the coming Xew Year men:mgs, and under such circumstances thcie seems 10 be no valid leason wny lie should not continue to train horses until at least up to : tne Aevv Zea*ar,U Cup mt.cung. or even as | tar ahead as the Uuvudin Christinas meeting at V» mgatui. ihe period existing between dropping training ana commencing to act as a starter makes no difference to any persons ability or honesty of purpose, and ine southern delegates practically say tiiafc it does so, and they incidentally propose to fine Mr AlTvor the amount of salary lie would receive as a trainer -between the present time and that in which he would commence to act as a starter. There is another aspect of tile situation to be considered. Air Ai'ivoi* has ability to tern out winners, but lie lias yet to prove his pro- • ficicncy as a starter. Tie has started at one meeting with a rair amount of success, and it the southern clubs intend to tie ids hands it would perhaps be more profitable to stick to the business in which he lias made a name and not drop the substance for wiiat may prove a shadow supplied by anyone holding- an official position, at the whim of some whose view of sport is not free from at least a so up con of suspicion. TROUBLE AHEAD. -there Las been a complete change of front in connection with the recommendations of f lie Racing Conference. The illconsidered action of the Minister of Internal Affairs in deciding that the recomime-nela-tion s should take place immediately was a serious mis.ake. In the first place it r ally meant that tne Racing Com mission was making law for the country instead of leav ing that duty to -Parliament. Political influence, however, soon got to work, and its pressure forced the Ai inis ter to annul his previous decision and agree that matters should remain as they are until the \ erdict of the Racing Commission gains or lads to gain the sanction of Parlia-m-ent. It now seems that there is a good chance of tne tour and trouble undertaken lay the Racing Commission becoming a waste of lime and labour. If the Commission haa maae a recommendation that the effect of their proposals should, not operate until after the present racing season, for which clubs and owners had already undergone considerable expense, a more' satisfactory reception would have been accorded their work. The knock-out punch which they administered in some directions, however, jnst-ead of killing seems to have galvanised Ihe clubs into a. stronger vitality than exhibited prior to the “enemy’’ knocking at their gates and ordering them to close up. H hen the matter comes before Parliament Wlil . .no doubt be found that a number or politicians will be doing their utmost to meet the desires of their constituents, and the welfare of racing and its attendant breeding industry will he a subject of very minor importance . What will be the outcome of the political finger forcing* itself into the racing pie remains to be seen. Up to the present greed and grab is the keynote of their connection with sport.