UP AGAINST IT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 409, 18 July 1928, Page 10

UP AGAINST IT

TROUBLES OF OWNERS

MENTORS SICK OF THE GAME

CO-OPERATION THE REMEDY

Owners and trainers in the Auckland district are again complaining bitterly of the hardness of the trotting game in this centre. They claim that they are well and truly up against a brick wall as regards training facilities, while consideration from clubs as far as dates of fixtures and programme arrangements are concerned is absolutely denied them.

‘ Abaydos” lias listened patiently to | the continual grumplings of those most i keenly interested in the trotting busiI ness in this important province, and while allowing that some people are hard to please, and others may never be satisfied, is forced to admit that in some respects there is reasonable ground for complaint. At the same time the writer will not deviate from the oft-quoted assertion that a good remedy is available in the re-organisa-tion of the Owners, Trainers and Breeders’ Association. The experience of those using the Epsom property for winter training has been an uncanny one, and under present conditions it is practically impossible to get horses ready for racing during the wet season. There was a big hue and cry over the track last winter and at the annual meeting of the Auckland Club it was hinted that a proper “winter training” track would bo substituted for the unsatisfactory sand circuit which was put down originally for that purpose. The sand track has proved a failure, and no amount of care or attention can fit it for use when the weather is unfavourable. Another winter has almost passed, but still there is no sign of the improvement being effected, but unless something is don© in this direction before next year, it is quite probable there will be no local candidates for winter honours, as owners and trainers are getting tired of racing partially prepared horses against the Southern army of invaders, who with their superior facilities, are always in the best of condition. It becomes an unequal competition, and Aucklanders are becoming weary of making up fields for th© benefit of visitors. Reasons for Quitting The lack of training facilities is used by a number of owners and trainers as a reason for either getting out of the game or transferring tlieir teams to the South, where things ar© much more attractive and congenial. One of Auckland’s leading owners keeps his fine string in Canterbury, but no doubt if conditions were more conducive locally they would be trained at Epsom.

A well known Auckland trainer, who has a team at present in commission that under more favourable circumstances would be the envy of any Dominion trainer, remarked to tlie writer that he “would give up the game to-morrow if he had some other line of business to take up.” He was sincere in his assurance, and this gives an idea of what the local enthusiasts have to contend with.

Another trainer said he was finished with th© business because the present handicapping system was not consistent. He cited the case of one of his charges, who some years ago put lip 2.12 for a mile, and is still on the same mark, while a Southern candidate with a record of 2.4 2-5 was recently let out on a 2.10 mark, from which he won.

Still another man is “turning it in” because he considers he was harshly dealt with by a judicial committee in finding him guilty of negligence when driving a horse, that any one who has ever been associated with agrees is a difficult animal to control. Others

> , are “getting out” because they rind the : : game altogether too ha.rd in this district, through the tightening up of l ■ classes at the central fixtures. Question of Dates | Tito last phase of the question opens ' j up the way for argument. No one can ' ! condemn tho Auckland and Otahuhu | j Clubs for marching along the line of i progress, which is necessary with the times, and in keeping with the spirit L of advancement. But the country clubs could lend a helping hand in this . direction by arranging some of their ' fixtures in such a way as to give ’ horses a chance of qualifying for the higher class. While the question of dates is of paramount importance to many trotting clubs it is infinitely more so to owners and trainers, and particularly is it of especial moment to those engaged in the sport whose representatives are not up to metropolitan standard, and are thus set a course of tests at the country fixtures with a view to gaining a proficiency certificate for the centres. But under present conditions, how many Aucklanders have any chance of reaching the required standard? The experiences of the season just concluded show all too plainly that owners of second-rate and improving classes ar© well out of the picture in this respect. It may be argued by some that they should endeavour to equip themselves with better material, but all interested in the sport cannot b© expected to own high-grade pacers and trotters. While admitting there are several horses in the district that could be “scrapped” to the profit of their owners and the benefit of the pastime, Auckland possesses quite a lot of promising material, which, however, is not eligible for the main carnivals—Auckland and Otahuhu. That many of these would qualify for the higher honour if given a decent chance cannot be denied, but very few of the country tracks are conducive to speed. Reviewing this fact broadly it is quite apparent the prospects of horses competing on the majority of Northern tracks reaching the higher standard is very remote, consequently owners and trainers of the secondary division, ; which forms the biggest percentage of j our provincial aspirants, are dependent j upon the country clubs for a chance to participate in the sport they enjoy. I with the hope of earning a stoke. Unfortunately for those chiefly con- ‘

cerned. the dates for the country eirI cuit are usually congested, and the I majority of the fixtures take place after the Auckland and Otahuhu spring and ! summer carnivals have been relegated i to oblivion. Judging by the list of proposed dateplaced before the conference the other day. the position this year will be worse than ever, and with the exception of one day at Claudelands early in December. the meetings which are suitable for the class of competitor referred to are trying to be squeezed into a six weeks radius. Waikato. Manawatu. Xorthland. Thames, Wanganui and Hawera all clamour to get their programme out of hand during March, with Taranaki and Te Aroha I terminating the country circuit as j usual in May. I Surely some of these clubs, especially those nearer home, could arrange for an earlier date. This would have a twofold advantage for owners. Chance to Qualify Meetings held in the spring would give the improvers the racing they need and also the chance to qualify—if possible—for the central fixtures j which would follow on. Clubs with two permits would also be assisting the ; struggling owner by holding their two ■ days’ racing together. Travelling ex- ; penses are solid enough nowadays and I if this proposal was adopted a certain j amount of saving would result. The clubs concerned would also benefit as owners from a distance who. under the 1 present system, are conspicuous by i their absence, would send teams to the ; meetings. It is worth the trial, and after all owners and trainers are entitled to some consideration. While the clubs provide the stakes it is to the owners and trainers that the public—another big factor—look for good spon. If the goods are not available, then public support is alienated and the lack of interest rebounds on the club by way of decreased revenue. If practically all fixtures which count with owners of the second division candidates are jostled together into six or eight weeks, they are being forced into a dangerous idleness for the greater part of the season. Dangerous, because they will lose heart and ail interest in the pastime and finally “fold their tents and silently steal away.” They will be. compelled to give up the game and the result will prove disastrous to the trotting industry. Solution of the Problem } But if the Northern owners and j trainers had some organisation t which they sadly lack) would this unhappy state of affairs continue long? The | writer says emphatically no. Why then : will those who are most concerned and * suffering all tlm disabilities so re-

peatedly complain.-. lor shut their „ to tho fact th it iteration i, V toad to success”? The Sun has and attain pointed out the advantw. of a live "ire association comprising owners, breeders and trainers ,0 used as a convincing argument th! good work done in this direction bv Similar organisation in Cantertnrv Tho time for the resuscitation of o. Auckland association was never mZ opportune. Still, tlte lethargic eni, appears to predominate and those vino grumbling .not altogether withor cause! stand aloof and seem confer

--CfeX|to let tilings take their course. J{ | this is the extent of their hackbon, j then it is no wonder the position is in 1 such a state of chaos. Until those who are keenly int«ested in the pastime locally can see tie force of this argument, and are prepared to unite in an effort to seeor* better conditions all round, then the ■ must be prepared to remain where th. . are. The movement must, however j have the hall-mark of unanimity, and owners and trainers on the Aticklan. J circuit must adopt as their slogan the I well-worn but all too true tnotf i ‘‘United we stand, divided we fail. Navy Xap Coat at Bert Marshall - .