THE DERBY DATE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 131, 24 August 1927, Page 10

THE DERBY DATE

DOES IT REALLY MATTER? ANOTHER VIEW EXPRESSED A correspondent, who is evidently keenly interested in the light-harness sport, wrote the following letter to “Abaydos” on the question of the running of the Great Northern Derby in October. The writer puts the position clearly and tenders some excellent advice to owners, breeders and trainers. The theory of the writer does not convince us that the club is acting wisely in holding the Derby at such an early date. If Auckland had the best three-year-olds in the land they would still be unfit to race so early, owing to the unsuitable conditions for training. “After reading the various comments on the date of the Derby, published in THE SUN, one feels inclined to ask, does it really matter? With the exception of Great Peter, who was bred in the South, Auckland has never had a Derby candidate worthy of the name, and, as far as members of the present contingent are concerned, they would have no more chance of beating Enawah, Harvest Child and company if the Derby was held in February. “The trotting sport in Auckland lacks foundation. The gentlemen who control the sport in Canterbury spend thousands on breeding and educating young trotters and pacers for classic honours, and it is to them that trotting owes its high position in New Zealand. “To the Auckland owners, I would recommend Mr. Timms’s motto, ‘Buy the best.’ To the heads of our clubs I would suggest that they follow the lead of Messrs. Le Leivre, Nicoll and McKenzie, and introduce a few trotting studs. “To the conscientious trainers I would say, ‘Don't despair. You can’t deliver the goods unless you have them.’ ’* INTERESTED