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Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1929, Page 4

Tin: representatives of the racing and trot) inp; clubs appear to have acted wisely on Friday in the meeting at ■J rev mouth in deciding to curtail the duration of the racing carnival at Christinas and New Year. There lias been a complaint for some time that the holiday period i f< extended unduly. The Westland Racing Club was the first to move definitely in the matter, and decided to agree to curtail one day. Now the Greymouth Jockey Club has decided to take a like course. This saving in the centre of the circuit affords the opportunity for tiie Reefton Jockey Club to move up and take a more prominent- place than being conspicuously last as heretofo e. Tncidoutaliy the Cub’s meeting will •'lso form a bettor circuit hv following I ho Westport gathering, and sportsmen will be able to move south without the necessity for retracing their steps till the circuit is comolctcd. , While the duration of the Christmas and Now Year circuit has been curtailed, through days being transferred to the Faster circuit, the duration of the latter is not extended. There will, lmwc'xer, he two additional days. These will make the meetings more compact and attractive without extending the period for visiting owners, and on first sight the new arrangements should prove more satisfactory for the clubs all round. At Christmas time with the longer holiday period, more Coasters travel afield than is the case at Faster time. There will, therefore, he more home sports here for the latter meetings, and better sustained patronage. The local trotting club should find the day a'lotted to it at the New Year a convenient one for visitors, and the meeting should he as pleasant, and successful as in the past. Everyone appears to he looking forward to a more prosperous year, and there is a move already in spoiling circles to acquire more locally owned horses, a healthy sign a.s to the tone of the sport. The Clubs have shown initiative in their recent action, and it is to he hoped the wisdom of it all will be amply demonstrated in due season.