TROTTING $1m Earned From Sales To U.S.

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31098, 29 June 1966, Page 5

TROTTING $1m Earned From Sales To U.S.

Until recent years the only export market of note for New Zealand trotting and pacing-bred horses was Australia.

In the last six years there has been a marked increase in purchases on behalf of interests in the United States, the market having reached its peak during the current season when more than a million dollars have been earned as the result of the sale of more than 100 horses. Since August 1 last, 106 horses sent to America have been granted export certificates by the Trotting Conference. In addition 85 registered horses have been shipped to Australia and at least three have gone to England.

In addition many yearlings and unregistered horses have been sold to Australia. This will be the first season that exports to the United States have been of greater value than the horses shipped to Australia.

The exports, to the United States, in particular, have been from among horses on

fairly tight marks in New Zealand. Forthy-three horses assessed at 2.13 or faster to have raced this season in New Zealand are now in the United States. They include 10 of the 16 horses to have contested the last New Zealand Cup. Eight of the 43 horses were assessed at 2.13, 14 at 2.12, six at 2.11, 11 at 2.10, three at 2.9 and one at 2.8 for a distance. The rest were fairly evenly spread through the remaining classes, and a few trotters were also included. The problems resulting from the tremendous increase in exports could become serious in the next 12 months unless programmes are planned carefully by all clubs. In spite of the many horses exported, 10 horses remain assessed at 2.10. However, it remains to be seen whether all will be available in the next 12 months. On Same Mark Great Adios, Jacobite and King Hal failed to improve on 2.10 assessments during the season. King Hal has been off the scene for a long time and may not be tried again.

Full Sovereign, which may start at Addington Raceway in August, started the season on 2.13 and graduated to a 2.10 mark, and Bobbinet, Disband and No Reply started on 2.12. Junior Royal, Lochgair and Pancho Boy all started on a 2.11 mark.

Oakhampton graduated from 2.12 to 2.9 J, and Master Alan and Waitaki Hanover remained on 2.9. Master Alan broke down fairly badly and whether he will race again in doubtful.

Garry Dillon, and Robin Dundee will both race next season from a 2.8 distance mark. They started the season on 2.10.

Lordship will again start next season on 2.6}, all of his successes this term having been gained in races which did not affect his ordinary assessment.

Provided no further inroads are made by American buyers into horses assessed at 2.10 and faster, clubs in Canterbury at least should be able to secure fields of reasonable size for important races in the spring.

However, whether the pool of horses wil be sufficient to enable invitation races to be run as extensively as in the past remains to be seen. Losses in the top company have been fairly heavy from time to time.

It has been the classes just outside the top pacing company that have been hardest hit by exports. There tre only five fewer horses assessed at 2.10 and faster than there were 12 months ago. However, the number of horses on 2.11, 2.12 and 2.13 has been reduced by almost half. This season started with 93 horses on these three marks, and there now remain only 58. Their numbers include the usual fairly high number of horses in the “doubtful” category. From this it can be seen that clubs cannot expect capacity fields in top races and might have to be prepared to start eight to 10 horses in events carrying rich stakes. Last season some of the best racing was provided by such fields, but it is doubtful whether the fields expected to be available in the spring will be of the same even quality.