Editorial. TAKING NO RISKS

Taranaki Daily News, 7 August 1930, Page 5

Editorial. TAKING NO RISKS

A- new departure as far as down-the-line racing clubs • is concerned was noticed at Awapuni last week, the regular display of stakes offered in each race being set down like this:—“Kiwitea Hunters' Hurdle Handicap, of 100 sovs. Winner to receive 70 sovs, second horse 20 sovs, and third horse 10 sovs.” ’ This'is distinct from the wording of stakes at the Manawatu autumn meeting last March, when races .were set out as. follows: — “Karere Hurdles Handicap, of 250 sovs. Second horse to receive 50 sovs, and third horse 25 sovs out of stake?’ Mark the difference. Under the old regulations, which were almost universally followed by racing clubs, the whole of the stake money was divided between the runners, or those which finished. In the event of only two horses finishing the first horse took first and third money, and if only one horse finished, his owner rejoiced in collecting the fujl stakes offered for the race. But under the new rule the club pockets all money not actually won. If, for instance, only Pikimai and Jiu Jazz had finished in the Kiwitea Hurdles last Thursday, Mr. S. G. Davidson would have received 70. sovs, Mr. A. Sexton 20 sovs, and the Manawatu Racing Club, .which was not a runner, 10 sovs. And if Pikimai had been the only one to finish, Mr. S. G. Davidson would still have, received only 70 sovs, while the Manawatu Racing Club would' have raked in 20 sovs for second placing and third moixy (10 sovs), This kind of-thing is not popular with' horseowners and trainers. The Auckland Racing Club can “get away with it,” but less important clubs cannot risk getting into the “bad books” of the majority of horseowners, who; as everybody knows,' are finding it hard enough to make the game pay under ordinary conditions. Stewards of other clubs in the Wanganui district are strongly against the Manawatu Club’s action, and it is unlikely that other clubs will follow suit.

. Auckland's action, as is probably well known to readers, was brought about in consequence of Mr. J; S. Barrett claiming first and third money in the Clifford Plate, run at Ellerslie in January, 1927, there only being two. starters, Count Cavour and Rapine. The conditions of the'race were:-—“For a stake of 650 sovs, second horse 100 sovs, and third horse 50 sovs.” Mr. Barrett, owner of Count Cavour, .refused to accept £5OO as the winner’s share, and the Racing Conference Appeal judges awarded, him £550, the full amount due under the wording of the conditions. At the time it was generally conceded that the Auckland Racing Club had acted parsimoniously., towards a good patron, and. a frequent visitor in the gallant Count Cavour, who had not had the best of luck at Ellerslie, and at the meeting at which the Clifford Plate was run the horse had finished second in the Auckland Cup and the Auckland Racing Club Handicap. To guard against a repetition of the incident the Auckland Racing Club framed a special' rule, and the action of the Manawatu Racing Club is merely an'echo of that same regulation. • K ■■ . 1 ' —“Pantutu.”