SAFETY FIRST—AND ALWAYS

Taranaki Daily News, 3 October 1929, Page 5

SAFETY FIRST—AND ALWAYS

Editorial.

Accidents in hurdle and steeplechase racing will never be entirely eliminated, but the almost total absence of serious mishaps in fla,t racing in New Zealand has made the Dominion the envy of Australian States, where, unfortunately, falls are-frequent, and fatalities many. t The matter has become so bad in Victoria that the V.R.G. Committee recently held a conference (to which thirty metropolitan trainers were invited), and the whole trouble was thrashed out. Proceedings were taken in camera, which is a pity, for the racing public'likes to be taken into the confidence of the racing authorities. Apparently no satisfactory decision was arrived at, the trainers failing to agree .with the theories advanced by Mr. L. K. S. Mackinnon, chairman of the V.R.C. Committee. Mr. Mackinnon declared emphatically that race accidents were caused in the main by the riders using their stirrups too short, and he also expressed the -opinion that the-formation of a riding school would be a move in the right, direction. . : -i .As: was only ‘.to-be expected, the trainers resented the ideas that .-their- lads, were not-properly. tutored "for; the - prof ession of - race riding, and-that they (the trainers) did riot see that suitable racing gear was adjusted during the course of saddlingmp. And a position of “as yoU wereis the fesult of the conference. To the New-Zealander,.Mr. Mackinnon’s remarks savour of the suggestion that the stipendiary stewards, in ,Victoria .do not know their business.. The paid-stewards-have greater' powers in Australia than, in New Zealand/ and it is certainly their duty to see that horses are-properly, equipped for racing; both as regards-the durability rand suitability of. girth, reins, .stirrups, > etc; carried;, and - they are bound to closely watch the races in progress; noting careless or indifferent- tactics; and reporting to ; the authorities when deemed necessary. ' - * • . Australian race tracks are, on the whole, comparable to those of New Zealand, so-there can be ; nd fault on the score of danger there. What strikes the New Zealander is the number of very large - fields that contest important handicaps on-the other side • of ■ the Tasman. Racing tracks may be.-smooth and wide, blit the tendency - of horses and horsemen to. take: “the. shortest way home” must result in crowding..on-the-bends, and it is here that most trouble is encountered. - u . . Errors of judgment, such as allowing horses to get on to the heels of their tiring opponents in front, will never be got over where ’, ’ fields are crowded. Once on the rails, and there is no chance, of getting clear- It is just a case of dropping back and coming round the field. Some jockeys slip through and gain lengths thereby but more are hemmed in and their chances ruined. Big fields’ seem to be the chief cause of Australia’s unenviable record.In New Zealand we have much to thank the maligned stipendiary stewards for. Commissions were set up and racecourses were inspected. Suggestions for making the tracks safer were ordered and carried out. Four furlong scrambles were cut right out for a time and the distances of other races increased, the object being to delete the “weeds” which were causing over-crowding. Stricter control of apprentices.and jockeys was brought in and wrong-doers were severely dealt with; in some cases (it appeared) harshly. Jockeys were ordered, to lengthen their stirrup leathers; girths, reins and other.equipment, were closely, scrutinised; andleg bandages, and other trappings came in for close inspection. Apprentices, in particular, were lectured where faulty tactics were seen, and the result is that racing, or race riding, is cleaner now than it has ever been, and in consequence the number of serious accidents is reduced to the minimum. In the Old Country the.control of..racing, at the larger courses -; is an example to the whole world. With courses often a couple of hundred yards wide, jockeys are compelled to keep their horses ■under strict control, and not for a moment are they allowed to steer . for the rails, or pursue anything but a straight course. Hector- • Gray found this out when he commenced riding there, and on his return was appalled at the rough riding then permitted in New Zealand. ' “Many. New Zealand lads,” he told the writer, “do not seem to value their own necks, but they might respect the-necks of their confreres! ’ ’ And on another occasion, when an apprentice “took him on” in nd uncertain manner, Gray remarked: “These kids become absolutely unconscious once the barrier lifts.” But things have changed now, thanks’ to the work of paid- and honorary stewards, and-New Zealand turf followers should appreciate the satisfactory state of affairs brought about by the strict enforcement of the maxim, “Safety First—and Always” .... “Moturoa.”