SPRINT RACING.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 October 1928, Page 1

SPRINT RACING.

THE WRONG TREND. CANTERBURY CUP DISTANCE. CHRISTCHURCH, October 3. “The whole trend is to go for sprinting instead of distance racing, that is why the trots are killing us,” declared Mr F. Peter at yesterday’s meeting of members of tlie Canterbury Jockey Club. The matter under discussion was the Canterbury Cup, in respect to which Mr Peter moved:—That it he an instruction to the committee to Vest ore the Canterbury Cup to two miles and a quarter. Mr G. Fulton: We cannot do anything this year, the programme has been advertised. The chairman (Mr J. S. Barrett) said it would do no harm to have the matter discussed publicly. Mi- Peter said it was a mistake to go hack to the shorter distance. The Canterbury Cup was the test of a good horse and a test of stamina, the horse that won the event was the best in New Zealand. He deplored the trend to go in for sprint events and declared that if things were the other way about they would he able to kill t*ie trots. People would not go to see

sprint races. The chairman : I am inclined to agree with Mr Peter. He is talking a lot of horse-sense. But we are in such a rot_ ten position financially that we really cannot give it more than we are doing. The members of the committee aie -en who give a great deal ot thought to what they are doing. You live up •there among the sheep (he added humorously to Mr Peter). The fellows -•'"inrl U’is show srive a lot of thought is it. I agree with you on principle. ',>ut although a race of two and a quarter miles is a test of stamina, 1 have never in my thirty year’s following ot the game seen more than one good race that was Winning Hit’s. Mr Fulton: And Gasbag. The chairman: Yes,'that was a good

Air Fulton: Tt is very difficult to eet a horse to run two miles and a quarter in November. It would be a different thing in the Autumn. Mr Peter: Well why not in the autumn? Mr Fulton: There are many other attractions then. Air Peter said the committee were . men who did not get out among the public at he did and hear what the public had to say. “There is nobody who enjoys a sprint except the gambler, ” he added. Air Fulton pointed out that most or the six furlong races had been eliminated. There were few races under seven