SIGNS OF THE TIMES

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1931, Page 10

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

For the first time since 1875 there is this year to Be no hui Cup. For very many years the Wanganui Cup was one of the principal events in the New Zealand racing calendar; indeed the first eleven races were decided oyer a course of two miles and a nnarter then a reduction to two miles was made, and finally in the distance was fixed at one mile and six furlongs. That alone gave the race distinction- Some years back there were plenty of fnZ races running to a mile and a half or more, and when c übs began to consider it necessary to cater for horses that could not be expected to go more than ten furlongs Wanganui sturdily stood Xnd maintained the dignity of its chief handicap. Much history has been made during the long career of the Wanganui Cup—history that one would like to retell—but it mu suffice iust now to say that many noted names appear in the records Ladv Zetland carried 8.3 to victory at Wanganui before she .won tee New Zealand Cup with 8.9. Muraahi and ® a P“ e an Auckland with a Wanganui Cup. Sn “ art ( ?“?.® ,*ho in his record credited to Quarryman, a fine stayer, who Sways thought was unlucky on the day I saw ■ him beaten in the big race at Eicearton a quarter of a century ago. _ Yes Wanganui has seen some great stayers win its cup. o day some very fine horses—some of the best m the country w parade before the crowd of the riyer city, for even chief -attraction the meeting has drawn remarkably good fields But toe will be many among the racegoers who will feel a pang of _ g when th?y realise that no matter.how good the day’s sport is for the first time in years they will have to miss the Wanganui p. The alteration of the programme must be aece P te J’J ° f a« a sign of the lean times, evidence of which accumulates with the publication of each totalisatdr; return. Wanganui has deemed it more dignified to suspend, a race with the traditions of the Wanganui Cup than to cut- the stake in half and reduce the distance, and there is very much to be said m support of.the>, b action. And it has not scrappedn meeting as some.of thsmaller clubs have done, but is giving those engaged m the business o racing an opportunity to carry on. It would ill become me to offer anything in the nature of hars criticism of those racing executives which have thrown up the sponge but at any rate the hope may be expressed that no more will follow the example. If racing were cur any great extent the outlook for a great many people would he bleak “dee . Trainers and jockeys must be finding present-day conditions as difficult as most of us do, and in times like these the staffs the clubs on race days must welcome the little additions to wen “lender exchequers. Wherever it all the' cials might well bear in mind the claim of all these folk to all tl assistance that can be given. b Then there are the breeders and owners of horses. Judging from the reports of a sale of thoroughbreds at Dunedin last week horseflesh is becoming very cheap. A Royal Stakes away, was sold for 65 guineas, and one solitary yeaihng in a bate of 11 realised 100 guineas. Owners evidently, are keen toget r of their horses and go out of racing, and.that means that breeders will find the markets seriously restricted. A Difficulties are to be expected just now, but perhaps are . too many people who are prone to go half-way-to meet them, ihere must be a measure of economy in racing as there must in jouneeti n with everything else. Let it, however, be a cheery kind of economyThe best spirit is exemplified by.the clubs that have reduce . by reasonable amounts, opened five-shilling totalisators and tried tn make their meetings more, not less, attractive. If the stake has. to come down to £5OO and the 10/- totalisator-to 5/-, there is not the'slightest reason Why the sport should not as goo - And if there is no deterioration m the character of the spoit it will not be hard Tor most of us to readjust our ideas of values and .still smiling. / ■ “ v Mikotahi?*