HOLIDAY RACING

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1930, Page 5

HOLIDAY RACING

Editorial.

November, one of the most important> months in the Calendar, has drawn to'a close, and f orwa rd jockeys and the general sporting public are now loofang fomara to the Christmas and New Year meetings. Racing has shed some light on prospects at the holiday yrtterms s ’ x New Zealand Derby Stakes, New Zealand Oaks Stakes Zealand Cup, and other important events serving sift the really good ones of all ages from the moderates, as weU as.te classify individual horses into their various » . sprinters, middle-distance performers, and genuine, dyed-in-the wool stayers. . Towards the end of December a carnival of rate meetings will commence in Poetically every and not the least important will be the four’ days sport in Taranaki. The Taranaki Jockey Club will race as usual on December 26 and 27, which fall conveniently on a. a Saturday this year, and a very good programme shouid keep Taranaki horses, or the majority of them, in their own at Christmas. It is far cheaper to race at home, or near and the mehu of the Taranaki Jockey Club is one which cater for all classes of thoroughbreds. The Stratford Racing Club is in the field agamwithta. hberaf ■ stake division on January 1 and 2, completing the circuit of »ur days’ racing in practically a week, and this should again bring many outsiders to Taranaki. When times were really good many Taranaki sportsmen went to Auckland for'the holiday racing, but it is rahW many will do so under present conditions. So, in that way,. Taranaki clubs will benefit considerably. The twenty-five per cent, fall in totalisator returns appears to be about the average ‘‘drop” this season, (and others) are freer with their surplus wealth at it is not anticipated'that clubs of this province will meet with such a set-back. And, after all, large tote figures are not necessarily an indication of prosperity. The machine are returned to horseowners m the form of stakes, ana . if a totalisator shrinkage causes stake-moneyJ;o be reduced in the future, the racing clubs, are not the suffeiers. Horseowners have to bear the brunt of things. Given fine weather, satisfactory attendances of the are what the dubs hope for The hnq abated somewhat, and gate returns should hold up wen. Both the Taranaki clubs mentioned have-dieted en^°J ls - n " wards horseowners, and are deserving.of su PPort. /The> ra g 'public although cramped m betting ™ ™one ever, and may be relied upon to do its. bit. looks-to forthcoming race gatherings h ® r ® cooptimism. We are assured of good sport, first class stages pro misp to draw good quality performers; and the officials of^ the two clubs are doing everything possible to carry on the game, according tri the high standard set in previous years. Horseowners and trainers are urged to support their home clubs and attention is drawn to the fact that entries for both; the b Taranaki and the Stratford meeting: close> early date New Plymouth nominations being due to-morrow mght. At is their duty to race in their own province, if possibleuust as it is x the duty of sportsmen generally to show by their patronage that racing in Taranaki is wdrthy of their first consideration. “Paritutu.”