RACING IN N.Z.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 November 1935, Page 10

RACING IN N.Z.

FAVOURABLE COMPARISON. MR. C. GOMER’S OPINION. “There are many things that they appear to do better in New Zealand than we do in Australia,” writes “Chiron,” the racing editor of the Australasian, summing up a conversation that he had with Mr. Charles Gomer, the chief stipendary steward to the New Zealand Racing Conference, during Mr. Gomer’s visit to Melbourne. In New Zealand no convicted person is allowed on a racecourse anywhere in the Dominion unless he first secures a permit from the Racing Conference. If he does not go through that formality and is found on a racecourse he becomes liable to prosecution for trespass. The’ New Zealand Racing Conference employs a staff of four officials known as racecourse inspectors, whose duty it is to attend all race meetings and keep from the courses all persons whose presence is undesirable. They also keep a watchful eye on trainers, jockeys, stable hands, and their associates. They are men who have served with distinction in the detective force and they work in co-operation with the local police at both the city and country meetings. “One of my friends, a fellow pressman in Australia,” continued “Chiron,” “was on a visit to New Zealand a year or two ago and attended a meeting there. He had not been long on the course when he was approached by a man who turned out to be one of the racecourse inspectors, and asked some very pertinent questions about himself. It was all very nicely done, and when the inspector was satisfied as to the identity of my friend he was taken along to the committee and given a warm welcome. The incident goes to show how closely New Zealand racecourse crowds are watched and strangers noted. The attendances at some Victorian racecourses would be much reduced if we had a staff of racecourse inspectors similar to that in New Zealand. Nor would there be such a close association of jockeys with persons whose absence from racecourses would be preferable to their presence. If a few people received an intimation to that effect the sport would benefit.” LINK DIVINE’S RACE BACKED AND BEATEN The tjawcra mare Link Divine, who was only recently taken over at Caulfield by P. B. Quinlan and who won, at her first attempt in Australia, a race in good style at Moonee Valley, was backed to a solid favourite in the Burwood Handicap on Caulfield Cup day. Ridden by K. Voitre, Link Divine ran a poor race. She did not jump out too smartly and when Voitre made a move to manoeuvre her through the field she suffered a check that sent her to the rear. She made a forward move on the outside of the field and approaching the straight was lying fourth. At the same time she was still outside several horses and had to cover extra ground. She beat all but the place-getters. The stewards inquired into the cause of Link Divine losing her position after the field had gone about half a furlong. They found it was due to the winner, Gay Circle (W. Jenkins), crossing to the rails too quickly. Jenkins explained to the stewards that his mount ran greenly and that the trouble was contributed to by portion of the bridle slipping. Link Divine is to race in the Wakeful Stakes—a race for three-year-old fillies over a mile—to-morrow, when sire will again be, ridden by K. Voitre.