THE DISTANCE QUESTION.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, 29 May 1913, Page 4

THE DISTANCE QUESTION.

From time to time agitators for an increase in the number of longdistance races crop up, and also for a similar increase in the number of weight-for-age events (says the Otago writer “Sentinel”). It is, of course, highly desirable in some respects that both classes of races should be catered for to the greatest' extent possible by our racing . clubs; blit an advocacy for the .extension indicated also creates tlie question as to whether it would be justified by results, and clubs which have to study' ways and means are naturally loath to place risky items, on the’ programmes. With the mul-' riplicity of meetings held in New Zea-’ land the rank and file of owners much Tather prefer to race their horses over short courses than keeping them keyed up to run journeys. A horse can dash over sprint courses twice a day without any harm; but nowadays a rac e of 10 furlongs and eight "urlongs on two consecutive days is considered quite enough for a horse, which in all probability will have to ’•ndergo the same ordeal a few days later. If the race meetings in New Zealand were reduced by half a demand for an extension of long-dist-•uce races would be uncompatible; tut it can be said with a great deal of truth that .a multiplicity of races over short, courses or middle distances have the same result and the came tax on stamina as a comparatively isolated race of a two-miie . journey. The object of racing is to test*.the stamina of thoroughbreds; but the same goal can be reached by different routes: • A horse may, after a long and careful preparation, run a fair race in the New Zea’and Cup: but the “battler” raced here, there, . and everywhere.’may exhibit just as much steel and stamina as a Cup ‘horse that is kept in lavender for the bulk of the season, and whose, few public displays are merely gallops to train him on. A lively few minutes with the gloves, and a dash over 100 yards or a Stewards or Great Easter : will itry -cut stamina just as much as a longer battle, which does not call for a full extension of power from

start to finish. So much is clearly evidenced by the fact that indifferent ' stayers on th e flat frequently prove good winners over hurdles. It is tlie pace that tells, and horses that could not win over six furlongs or a mile in fair company on the flat can win over two miles when asked to race over the sticks. The fact of longdistance races being summarily called into existence would not necessarily create sufficient stayers ' to justify such action, and much as they mayseem desirable to some eyes there is a lack of practicability, and I may go further and say value, about the idea that, does not - warrant any further move in the matter than what., is already provided for under the Rules of Racing. Even as it is, evidence can be quoted, to show how clubs include “ Ladies’. Rurs.es ” and

similar events to dodge the spirit of existing racing law, not because clubs

are anxious to side-step the rules, but because they are primarily imbued with the idea of making their

meetings show a financial success. There is no gainsaying the fact that

from a spectacular, point of view the long-distance races are more enjoyable than .a scamper, which in many cases is settled with the rising of the barrier. Still, smart horsemanship, speed, and cleverness in a horse are demanded in such races, and most of us would prefer a Machine Gun to carry us out of action and a mere plodder to lead us into the fray. In recent years there has been a tendency to lose sight of long-distance racing for the simple reason that it does not pay either clubs or owners. To restore them it would probably help to achieve the best results if a fresh start were made at the lowest rung of the ladder and make clubs that include two hack races on each day’s card have at least one run over a mile or more, instead of having them at five and six furlongs. Such a move would tend to feed the

the chief long-distance events, and may bear good results to all concern-

ed because many horses that get beat

for speed can go a journey when allowed a chance to get balanced in their stride. Advocates for long-dis-tance races claim that it would improve our horses. That mav be ro but we would still have to breed to

the same horses. Wairiki, Achilles,, and others that could be named were great horses, possessing both speed and stamina, and hence on paper highly desirable as stallions. They were proved horses on the tuirf, but the winner of the New Zealand Cup is just as likely to be sired by a socailea a non-staye r as a Fisherman or a Musket.