BIG TROTTING.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20649, 25 June 1935, Page 10

BIG TROTTING.

Plans Made by Conference in Sydney. N.Z. DELEGATES RETURN. The conference of representatives of trotting associations of every State in Australia and delegates from new Zealand, which was held in Sydney last week, was a complete success. The Dominion was represented by Mr H. F. Nicoll. president of the New Zealand Trotting Conference, and Mr B. McCarthy, a member of the conference. On his return to Christchurch this morning, Mr Nicoll stated that an Inter-Dominion council had been formed, and that each State in Australia and New Zealand had the right to send as many delegates as the respective associations wished, but each State and New Zealand would have only one vote. The handicapping system was freely discussed, and it was agreed that 12 yards to the second should be the basis of all handicapping systems. The New South Wales Trotting Association has adopted the New’ Zealand method, but owing to the stakes given by th» Australian Trotting Club being smaller than those given by the New South Wales Association, an arrangement has been proposed, whereby lesser penalties will be imposed on horses winning and being placed at the Australian Trotting Club’s gatherings, than are scheduled for meetings held by the New South Wales Association. The question of registration of horses and dual nomenclature was deliberated upon at some length, and it was decided that no horses, irrespective of period, should bear the same name. The project of championship races was adopted, and the first will take place at the Western Australian Association’s grounds this year. Next year the council will meet at Adelaide, where the championships will be run under the jurisdiction of 4 the South Australian Trotting Association. These meetings will be known as the InterDominion championships. Championship Races. The programme will probably include five championship events, and the stakes will be about 1000 sovs for each contest. The chief event will be a handicap with a three or a four seconds limit. There will be a race for three-year-olds, or four-year-olds, or both, and two contests will be confined to unhoppled trotters that can negotiate two miles in 4.40 or better. Owners will be guaranteed £IOO for one horse towards expenses, but if one owner takes more than one horse, the allowance will be approximately £l5O for two horses. The Inter-Dominion championship meetings will extend over three days, and the balance of the programme will be made up of attractive stakes and classes for improving horses of both gaits. While in Sydney, Mr Nicoll attended a meeting held by the New South Wales Club at Harold Park, which has a four furlong track. During the afternoon, eleven races were decided with only 24-minute intervals. Everything worked smoothly, and the last race was run on time. Mr Nicoll was greatly impressed with the improvement which eliminated much of the delay between races as occurs in New Zealand.