TROTTING REINSMEN.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18247, 7 February 1931, Page 19 (Supplement)

TROTTING REINSMEN.

INOOMPETENCY SHOWN. A WEAKNESS IN THE SPORT. Some two or three years ago there was much to find fault with at trotting meetings in the driving of races. Mixed with Incomipetency there were cases of team driving and, worst of all, foul driving. Races were lost and won as a result of judicious team driving, while the foul driver was prepared to take all kinds of risks to help towards victory. Horses were started In events In which they had r i prospect of success, being only in tho race to assist others, and this fact, together with the work of tho foul driver brought about a state of affairs that was anything but desirable. On several occasions there were accidents, which might have caused serious injury to man and horse, but it seemed almost hr possible t" 1 catch the actual offender or offenders —as there were frequently more than one in. a race. Finally the evil became so pronounced that the authorities took action and a few offenders were caught and punished. This had the desired result of abolishing the trouble, and lasl season, and so far this season tii'-i ■ has been little to which exception could be taken; in fact, the racing throughout the Dominion has been very good and comparatively free from the evils mentioned. For the action taken by those in control all followers of .he sport are thankful. Driving trotters and pacers, especially in the fastest classes, is dangerous work, and drivers should not have to take unnecessary risks caused by those who combine to break piles and regulations, or to race against Ihe deliberate foul driver, who sels out lo win under any circumstance's. Whilst punishment has been on the lenient side in the pasi, it seems that public opinion has had something to do with the abatement of the evil. It was the chief topic of conversation amongst those who follow the sport closely, and the culprits must have realised that they were in danger of detection. Must be Taken In Hand. There is still a bad feature In race driving which must now be taken In hand, by those in charge of the sport, says a writer in the Christchurch Star. This is the incompetent driver. He ! s usually not possessed of sufficient experience or ability to wilfully do anything wrong in a race. But his inability to realise all that is necessary at a critical point frequently causes trouble which would be avoided were he an expert. Discussing this point recently, one of the most competent reinsmen in the Dominion ventured the remark that sometimes one was compelled to drive a good or had race against one’s judgment, and he cited a case to illustrate his remark. Driving In a race he made up his mind: to take up a certain position, took it, and found it wrong, and said it cost him the race. In the following race he set out for another position, but was unable to obtain it, and had to go where he could. This eventually proved the right move, and he won, whereas had he secured the place he wanted he would never have got clear to have a chance at the end of the contest. Difficult for the Amateur. When competent reinsmen make such errors of judgment, It shows how difficult it is for the comparative amateur in the art of race driving to do the right thing. Even the most experienced drivers make bad mistakes, which most of (hem are quick to admit, and all of them occasionally drive bad races. But they drive fewer than those who only race pacers and trotters at odd intervals and consequently are not in form to do their horses justice. There will always be good and bad drivers, just as there are good and bad horses, but the casual driver requires to have his general mistakes pointed out to him and a warning administered. Many trainers who delight to drive their own horses, and to a large extent they are the backbone of the sport, spoil all their good work of training by driving bad races, when experts could he obtained who would achieve far better results. It is not suggested that these drivers set out to do anything wrong in races, but their incompetency frequently spoils races and sometimes causes great trouble to others in the contest. Races are becoming harder to win, and any owner who has a reasonable chance of success should avail himself of the best reinsmen he can secure. Good reinsmen, like good horses, are sometimes out, of form, and this fact also should be realised when races are at hand. There has been a proposal to classify reinsmen, but it Is very doubtful if this will get over the difficulty. A driver classified as first-class may become Incompetent from a number of causes and yet retain his right to drive in the best races. The trouble will be best got over by the incompetent men realising their inability to compete against the experts, and by obtaining the best service of others, while they view the race from the garndstand.