JOCKEYS’ WEIGHTS

Evening Star, Issue 22461, 5 October 1936, Page 8

JOCKEYS’ WEIGHTS

THE NEW MIiNiMUM NOT COMPULSORY FOR N.Z. AND AUCKLAND GUPS MINISTER'S CONCESSION AND COMPLIMENT FOR CLUBS [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, October 5. No strict observance of the recommendation tp clubs passed by the last annual meeting of the Racing Conference for a 7st 71b minimum in handicap events will be insisted on in the New Zealand Cup and Auckland Cup. The Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Parry, stated to-day that, in deference to representations made, he had given the matter careful consideration. He realised that, owing to the shortness of the notice, and in view of the fact that probably the horses were put into the early stages of their cup preparations on the assumption that the minimum weight would be 7s t, it would possibly make for hardship in certain cases if the minimum were now fixed at 7st 71b. “ The further fact that that minimum might lead to the top weight being allotted an almost impossible burden has also weighed with, me,” the Minister said. “ I have come to my decision the more willingly because of the fine manner in which both the Racing Conference and the individual clubs have honoured what, after all, is for this year a ‘ gentleman’s agreement.’ No request for a lower minimum in races under two miles has been made to me, nor have the clubs attempted to work on the old 7st minimum. I am gratified with’ this recognition by the racing world that the ever improving physique of the men and boys of this country has made tho increase of the minimum from 7st to 7st 71b a humane necessity.”