REDUCTION OF RACING IN NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1420, 12 July 1917, Page 7

REDUCTION OF RACING IN NEW ZEALAND.

HORSES DRIVEN TO AUSTRALIA

In an interview with the “Sun” in Sydney regarding the decision of Cabinet to reduce racing in New Zealand by one third during the approaching season, Mr. R. J. Mason, the well-known and successful Riccarton trainer, expresed the opinion that the reduction would not do a great deal of harm to the turf in its present condition. What was likely to more seriously affect racing, however, was the Cabinet’s refusal to provide special train services for future meetings. So far as country racing was concerned, it would probably mean an almost complete abandonment of the sport. Some of the big metropolitan clubs, whose courses were situated far out of town, would also suffer, while there would

probably be a falling off in attendances at all fixtures. Mr. Mason went on to mention that Riccarton course is five miles from Christchurch, and could get on without the trains, as trams would serve the purpose, while trams also travel to within three-quarters of a mile of the Ellerslie course, which is five miles from Auckland. So far as the Dunedin and Wellington courses are concerned, however, it is a different matter. The latter, being 18 miles from the city, relied almost solely upon special trains in the past, while Dunedin’s course, which is eight miles out of town, has no trams, and the train service can only be replaced by motor transport at very heavy cost. Mr. Mason thinks that the lack of train services will really solve the problem of the onethird reduction, as only the clubs whose courses are centrally situated will be able to carry on and share in the remaining number of meetings. Before he left New Zealand a proposal was on foot to confine racing to the central courses which could get along without the railways, and to arrange that portion of the profits of these clubs should be devoted to the maintenance of courses and buildings and the payment of interest on debts standing against other clubs which could not race again during the war period. •The Racing Conference still had the matter under consideration. Mr. Mason concluded that the changes in New Zealand would drive many of the best thoroughbreds to Australia. He had brought over four horses, and others preparing to send teams to Australia were Mr. Gerald Stead (six horses), Mr. Wilfred Stead (s'x horses), Mr. H. Troutbeck (five horses), Mr. Lowry (three or four), and the trainers M. Hobbs (five or six) and Taylor (four). The departure of 30 or more good horses would result in a marked depletion in the ranks of the best animals in New Zealand.