DRAWN OUT

NZ Truth, Issue 1214, 7 March 1929, Page 11

DRAWN OUT

Last Run Too Late KEEP TO TIME

(From "N.Z. Truth's* Christchurch Rep.) A recent innovation m Canterbury, of spec.d.ing up the running of race meetings, worked very sue- : , cessfully at the Canterbury mid- - summer meeting. THE first race did not start until A 1.16, and with only thirty'rfive minute spells between races' the meeting passed off successfully, , and little money was shut out. ' In fact, an increase was re- \ corded on the tote as compared with last year. The Banks Peninsula! Club followed this up with a trial of the same system, .but slumped badly. v A few minutes were lost on the first race, arid things were allowed to drift by those m charge at the tote, .while a drawn out ceremony of presenting the Cup did not assist matters. .Instead of the last race, starting at 5.20, it was just before 6.30 that the field got" away. Consequently, the race train did not arrive back m the city until after 8 p.m., causing much inconvenience to most people, and resulting m quite a few missing connection with the. ferry boat. ... While the system 'may not be practically applied to New Zealand Cup and' National meetings, it is -an excellent one for most other ' fixtures, and it would be a pity to drop it once it has been proved so successful. A closer grip, however, will need .to be kept than was m evidence at Motukarara for it to become popular with the public.