THE RULES OF RACING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 197, 20 August 1900, Page 3

THE RULES OF RACING.

(By Telctgraph.—Press Association)

CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday.

Sir George Clifford, who was appointed by the Racing"Conference to arbitrate in the dispute between the WoodvlHe District Jockey Club and the Manawatu Racing Club, as to the dates ol their autumn meeting, has decided that the Woodville Club is entitled to February Zl and 2S. The Manawatu Club will therefore require to submit another date for the approval of Sir Geo.CUfford. Mr J. A. Cock and the Hon. Mr Ormona, judges in the' matter of the Masterton Racing Club, appellants, and the Wellington Racing Club, respondents, and tne disqualified horse Rebounding Lock, have decided that under rule 117 of the rules of racing, all protests and objections arc to be determined by the stewards, and their decision is to be subject to appeal within 14 days to the committee of the jockey club. In this case the appeal was not lodged within the time limited by that rule, and the judges therefore decide that the right of appeal lapsed, and that the original decision of the Masterton Racing Club must stand. The judges, however, consider that when it comes to the knowledge of stewards of racingl clubs some time after the meeting that the race has been won by a hors.e ridden by an unqualified jockey, the time limit of fifteen minutes Imposed by rule 115 does not apply. They further consider that the rider of Rebounding Lock was not qualified to ride at the time of the race, and that, therefore, the horse was properly disqualified by the stewards of the Masterton Racing Club. In the opinion of the judges the meaning of rule 142, subsection 1, as it stood in the rules of 1599. was that neither jockeys nor apprentices could ride unless licensed, but that in the case of apprentices the rules of racing as to fees were relaxed for a certain period. They think it advisable to point out that this rule has been so altered at the recent Racing Conference that no similar question in regard to the riding of apprentices can henceforth occur.