RACING IN CALIFORNIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 July 1939, Page 9

RACING IN CALIFORNIA

BANNED BEFORE AND AFTER

GREAT WAR.

For a number of years before and after the Great War racing in the State of California was banned by statute, and only after a long legislative fight in which Mr D. P. Kyne was prominent in the cause of the sport, were the promoters of racing given a free hand, with pari-mutuel and other betting facilities, from which the State draws large revenues annually. Mr Kyne, accompanied by his wife and daughter, was a through passenger by the Mariposa, which was at Auckland recently en route to Sydney. . He intends to investigate racing conditions in the Dominion and Australia, with a view of inducing owners of good thoroughbred performers to pit their representatives against the best who are now racing for large stakes on the west coast of the United States. Since racing again secured legal sanction in California, many racetracks have been inaugurated, and that at Bay Meadows is controlled by Mr Kyne, who is keen to see international competition in the big handicap and classic events in that State.

Of recent years, many of the best horses racing in California, for some of the largest stakes in the world.. had been drawn from the most prominent stables of the Eastern States and-the Argentine, and competitors from South America, some cheaply bought, had had an unusually successful run. It was Mr Kyne’s opinion that the Antipodes was capable of providing material for the best prizes, and he mentioned that the reputation, of Beaulivre had come to his knowledge prior to his departure from San Francisco.

In comparison with the prices secured for only moderate- performers in South America, Mr Kyne expressed astonishment that horses from New Zealand and Australia had not made more voyages across the Pacific. Phar Lap’s visit was still fresh in the memory of racing men throughout the United States and he was generally regarded as the best handicap performer seen in the country. There was a controversy whether the crack American colt, Johnstown, or the Australian champion, Ajax, was the better, and it would be a great event if the two could be matched.