QUALIFYING TRIALS

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31107, 9 July 1966, Page 6

QUALIFYING TRIALS

Waikato Plan Approved

(N.Z. Press Association)

AUCKLAND

A major step towards salving problems caused by the many maiden gallopers in training throughout the North Island has been taken by the Waikato District Committee. The committee decided on Thursday, on the recommendation of a sub-committee, to hold eight qualifying trials throughout the Waikato area in the coming season. The trials will be restricted to maidens and two-year-olds with a maximum of 12 runners permitted in each heat. Heats wl'll be confined to colts and geldings or fillies and mares where possible. When Waikato clubs are required to ballot, preference will be given to horses placed second or third at totalisator meetings in the area and then to horses placed first, second or third at the qualifying trials.

Later In the season, the committee feels it might be possible to restrict maiden races to horses which have run first, second or third at the trials.

The eight trials will be held on Tuesdays between August and next April. The Waikato, Waipa and Matamata clubs will hold two each and the Rotorua and Bay of Plenty clubs one each.

Trials will be held at Te Rapa on August 23. Te Awamutu on September 13, Tauranga on September 27 and Matamata on October 18. Other dates will be decided later. At every trial, one heat will be restricted to apprentice riders. The distances for heats will be at the discretion of the clubs running the trials. Results of trials will be forwarded to the secretaries of all racing clubs in the Waikato district for their guidance when the need for balloting arises.