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Hokitika Guardian, 19 March 1932, Page 4

The amount of publicity given to Australasia through the medium of the wonder horse, Phar Lap, will occasion world-wide interest- in the race the horse is to run to morrow. His enterprising owners are to be complimented on their courage in going so far to meet the unknown quantity, but having proved conqueror of all and sundry in; New Zealand and Australia, it was perhaps not surprising that fresh fields of conquest should be looked for. A horse such as Phar Lap must cost a good deal for transport, and if as appears to be anticipated, he will account for the best that North America can produce, ho will probably go on in due course to England, to meet the cracks there. Whatever his fate now, the fact remains that he has been a great advertisement for colonial horse flesh, and already the noise of his fame abroad has brought buyers from afar to search for more of his breed. In the same way, New Zealand bred horses are finding their way to Australia and upkeping their reputation of New Zealand studs. The publicity through this channel, in which Phar Lap is the bright particular star for the time being, -brings a, good deal of grist to the mill) but it js unfortunate owing to the stressful times, that many racing stables are closing down or seriously reducing tne string of horses. Racing in New Zealand is handicapped heavily by -the burden of special taxation, At the war time when money was in plenty,, the racing world wa ß heavily taxed specially for war purposes. But the guns were silenced some fourteen years /ago, yefc the taxation has been increased! Now that money is not as plentiful with the public, the totalisator (the revenue-making machine) is well down; for most meetings, and Clubs have a difficulty in carrying on. As a consequence stakes have been reduced, and a profit out of racing is now difficult to achieve. A serious decline is taking place, and this is not conducive to the production of horses of tbe Phar Lap stamina. The authorities might well afford to take count of the position and the contingency which is arising, so that with much needed relief racing may be encouraged to revive and the production of more Phar Laps be a hopeful possibility.