POOR AVERAGES INDEED

NZ Truth, Issue 1211, 14 February 1929, Page 13

POOR AVERAGES INDEED

Mangere 's Weak Class Accounted For Small Returns

(From "N.Z. Truth's' 1 Auckland Representative)

Somewhere between sixty and seventy pacers and trotters trained around about Epsom and Mangere have competed this season at Alexandra Park.

IT has been published that their winnings amounted to £11,277, and m view of their numbers it is not a great deal to their credit. This is further accentuated when it is realized that of this amount. Gold Jacket accounted for • < £2620, Tiger Salve £1120 and Native Prince £1065. This left £6472 to be distributed amongst the remainder, the greater proportion of which never earned enough to buy boots for themselves, let alone for their owners. The general cry has been that the visitors were encouraged to come north, the handicaps being framed m such a manner as to be an inducement. In some instances, may be, this was correct, but getting down to bedrock, the local horses are not of a high standard. There are few newcomers willing to enter the sport as a sport, and there are reasons of various kinds why they refrain from expending decent sums to < purchase young stock or proved performers. The result is that the same old performers are jjersevered with m the same old monotonous manner, and m most cases they deteriorate with age. To see trotters and pacers, ranging m age from fifteen to over twenty years, still asked to do their share under silk, is somewhat amazing. Needless to say, they collect little, and it looks as though a better proposition would be to pension them off and go m for something younger. Admittedly a lot of sentiment is attached to the ownership of past stars

of the* track, but from the business point of view it is not a success. Of course, while there is life- there is always hope, but unless new blood is introduced into the ranks of Auckland, then it will always be a common

:urrence to see the visiting continlt running away with the plums of programmes. ,