STRATFORD RACE DAYS

Taranaki Daily News, 3 January 1935, Page 3

STRATFORD RACE DAYS

POSSIBILITY OF CHANGE

AN INTERESTING SUGGESTION.

SECOND DAY AT LATER DATE.

(By

“Hurry On.”)

The necessity of the Stratford Racing Club to postpone the second day of its meeting until Saturday gives rise to possibilities that the club might well consider in future.

Would it not perhaps be better for the second day always to be three or four days after the first instead of immediately following it? Take for instance the present occasion. Had the dates for the meeting been originally fixed for January 1 and 5 it is probable that some horses competing at Marton would have been at Stratford on Saturday as well ■»s several from Auckland. An addition of ten or twelve horses to the fields, especially some good performers, would make a wonderful difference to the general interest. In addition to the horses the date would allow all the best jockeys to be present, and their presence would make a big difference to attractions that a meeting has for the public. The general racegoers have two days at New Plymouth and then two more immediately following at Stratford. If the second day at Stratford were postponed until three or four days later and all •the Taranaki horses competing at outside meetings were back and all the best jockeys present the day would provide an ideal holiday after a few days’ break. There are some difficulties in the way. It would necessitate visiting owners, trainers and horses remaining longer in the province, but against this the club is in the happy position of being able to provide free stabling, and further concessions might be arranged for the visitors. Again it will be stated that the arrangement could only be made on certain years like the present one, when the Saturday falls conveniently after the New Year. This will not happen for another three years. The whole proposition may not be practicable, but it is certainly interesting. It might almost be possible to stage a trotting event with many of the leading southern pacers returning from the Epsom gathering as another attraction.