Editorial— CATERING FOR THE SQUIBS

Taranaki Daily News, 24 July 1930, Page 5

Editorial — CATERING FOR THE SQUIBS

Theßacing Conference at its most recent meeting approved of a proposal to make the period of the 9st. minimum from June 7 to f August 15, instead of from June? to August 31, and it is; genei ta ;y understood that this move is merely the introduction of the- thin wedge, and that next year the Ost. minimum will be a^o1 No e< reasons have been advanced for this change, nor for the. more drastic proposals of the future. “A number of horseowners are in favour of the 7st. minimum,” we are told, which amounts to a plain admission that some horseowners do not rate their equines ■ very highly; that they confess that their horses have not the stamina ‘ to carry 9st. Then they are not horses at all. t . ■ , • n- ■ ' What is a good horse’s weight? Surely one that cannot gallop under 9st; Under winter conditions is a weakling • Tracks are against fast times then, and races are-run slower.. But then, ot an times, the need of strong horsemen is most pressing.. Horses,- that is -flat racers, have fewer opportunities for racing into form, and riders on the flat consequently find it harder to get the riding necessary to keep down their weight. So. why. the change? ■ Even when the 7st. minimum is in force we see at almost every meeting horses carrying 9st. and over, and meeting with a fair, measure of success. Few complaints are made then. So why find fault when'the bulk of horses are practically on the same mark? io lower the weights seems a retrograde step, unwarranted; and simply catering for the squibs. - . o Then there are the riders themselves to be considered. Some measure of relief was given them by raising the minimum from 6st . 71b to 7st., and it is unlikely that the former weight, will, ever be reverted to. All jockeys are not lilliputians, and even the light boys •as a rule cannot expect to remain light for long. With advancing years Nature has decreed a corresponding increase in weight of bone and flesh, if not in stature, and in order to carry on the. pursuit of a precarious but profitable profession the majority are forced’to fight nature by means of “wasting.” • - ~ t .. ■ ' ■ That flesh reduction by means of correct dieting is not harmful is admitted, but when a growing lad is forced to weaken himself ■: by the adoption of a starvation diet;-to swallow nauseous draughts of cathartic medicines; to clothe himself in half-a-dozen “sweaters,” and run, jog or walk for miles; or to endure the horrors of the Turkish bath, .then it is time to call a halt. . All of the above means of keeping down weight are weakening and harmful. They are contrary to the dictates of nature, and should, for the health and well-being of the . race, be strongly discountenanced. And any rule which tends to make such practices necessary merits nothing but the strongest condemnation. Furthermore, the weak condition in which many jockeys are forced to present themselves to ride in races, is not conducive to horsemanship at its best. How often do we hear the excuse tendered for the inartistic jockey: “Oh. He’s been ‘wasting,’ and he couldn’t ride a finish!” Strange to say, such excuses are accepted without demur. Harm has undoubtedly been done by this latest, “tinkering” with the Rules of Racing, and protest should be lodged now, lest the “powers that be,” confident that all is well, should mediate further baneful “alterations.” The 9st. minimum in flat races does not ■affect many events between June 7 and August 15,. the bulk of our programmes being given over to hurdlers and steeplechasers, and if pur jumpers can carry 9st’ and more over much greater distances of i ground, and with obstacles at every second or third furlong,-then it is surely not asking flat- racers too much to. carry “winter weights.” And are not our jockeys entitled to a “holiday,” or some respite from this wretched fight with the forces of nature? —“Paritutu.” •