TO INCREASE ATTRACTIVENESS OF HARNESS RACING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1245, 26 February 1914, Page 14

TO INCREASE ATTRACTIVENESS OF HARNESS RACING.

RADICAL TROTTING INNOVATIONS. The American mail just to hand brings particulars of a series of proposed radical innovations which have been suggested by the National Association with a view to rendering harness racing attractive to a greater number of people. These suggestions were to have been discussed at a joint conference of the National and American magnates in Chicago, and in the event of being agreed to were then to come before the joint congress for action. Several of the innovations are of interest to followers of harness racing in New Zealand, and we therefore quote one or two of the most important. — PENALTY FOR THE HOBBLERS. As regards hobbiers a suggestion has. been made that: —“Horses that do not wear hobbles shall be allowed three seconds to other allowances to which they are entitled.’ •, The hobble business has caused the rule makers no end of trouble. They want to do something to stop the racing of horses that are shy on speed and manners unless restrained from their natural inclination by means of the leg harness. It is fur easier to train a horse with hobbles than without, and this, has given many a man a job as a driver who otherwise never would have had his name in a summary.

Just how the propoised three seconds penalty will be taken is a question, but if both associations agree upon it the hobbier will have to take his medicine. This is .a rule that should apply to the half-mile tracks where the difference between the two kinds is more noticeable owing to the short turns, but on the mile tracks the hobbiers never have shown that they had anything on the free-legged horses-. There is one thing a rule of tnis sort would do- It would put a premium on intelligence and ability on the part of the trainers. They would have to do some figuring in the way of balancing and other scientific details instead of slapping a pair of hobbles on a horse, and setting him going. HELPING OUT THE VETERANS. One suggestion has to do with the so-called outclassed horses, and these are the words:—“A horse with a record shall be allowed one second for each year in which he fails to equal or reduce his record or win a race, if same is claimed by the nominator when making the entry.’ This will fit many horses that have been struggling with a lot of younger things on the various circuits. Take one of the jron-sided. pacers that happened to take a mark of 2.09 1-4 in 1910 and has not been able to race up to- it since then. In 1914 he would be eligible to the 2.13 class, or perhaps the 2-14 as they happen to interpret it. This would apply to his first start and of course any reduction of that record would bring him a little farther down as the season passed, but the veteran would have a chance, and would make racing more interesting all the while.

There are many of these outclassed horses in all sections and more of them would be racing if it were not for the old record. Their presence m slightly slower classes where they could hold their own would be an im provement to the sport itself.

This rule worked out with the penalty for hobbles would bring back some of the old free-legged pacers and make somewhat of a stir.