WHERE ARE THE STAYERS ?

NZ Truth, Issue 93, 30 March 1907, Page 2

WHERE ARE THE STAYERS ?

, There are, some really goo 4 stakes at the different meetings m New/Zealand nowadays,, and on account of the increaased totalisator revenue the .stakes m the North Island are continually on the increase. A retn&rk>atole feature about this colony's racing is tHe fact that there are only fereg "handicaps, and a 'couple of W.f;aV events, that ate run over a course exceediin^' -twelve furlongs.There has „ alway^ been 'an excellent class, of sprinters m.; the country, and it' Is, of course, Ti^ht th;at these snould be 'catered-" for, but it makes very poor effect' to see suoh good stakes -given away all over the North Island for 1-J-and l£ mile handicaps. The fields yhich usually contest the Auckland Cup and 1 the Ne# Zealand Cup are not numerically in' keeping with 1 the prizes provided, -and thjs is lio doubf due tp "the fact' that there are so few 'handicap races of; a sifliiiar distance, th^ Waneaiiui: Cup toeitng tHe : , only other which v .-exceeds; >li miMs, Cltihs J m different parts are gradually . "introducing w'.f.a. .and classical -Civehts but ,nohe of them seem to .consider the question •of catering •""■for stayers.. Auckland 4iifl r Christchurch have a fat distance handicap, and the 'Wellington Racing Club 'might . l o ok into the. I question of lengthening' thqir Cup distance, or rputtinp:- on another handicap, two 'miles or over. ErQba-bly the Spring meeting, when the tracks are not so hard would be the " best time fof such ah event. When there are more fades of this kind set down for Competition the public will be treated to .sport where the stamina and enduring power,; as well as the speed of: the horse, will be called in'io- feqtiisiiion, the present long distalhce 1 handicaps will not be such poor, e-wenis as "I/hey appear to-day., and •the'qualitv of New Zealand's- hors«ftesh will be certainly improved.