TROTTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 161, 10 July 1930, Page 17

TROTTING.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. MINOR MATTERS CONSIDERED. PROTESTS AND DIVIDENDS. In addition to the more < important items dealt with at the annual meeting of the Trotting Conference in Wellington yesterday, a number of minor matters were considered, but in no case did they give rise to lengthy discussion. A new rule proposed by the New Zealand Trotting Association providing that no races shall be included in any programme with slower limits than 2.30 to the mile, or flat rate equivalent for pacers, or 2.34 to the mile or flat rate equivalent for unhoppled trotters, was adopted. A remit from the Cambridge Club proposing that the principal race of a meeting may be called the Trotting Cup Handicap if a trophy other than a cup is given, was adopted. Arising out of the Ben Bingen case at Invercargill and the Lord Haldane case at Thames, when the horses named won and were disqualified, but the decisions were subsequntly reversed on appeal, two remits were presented proposing that in future cases the dividends should not be paid out until the appeals are heard. The remit to this effect from tha Club was defeated, and thother from the Thames Club was withdrawn. The argument against the remits was that the holding up of totalisator investments in such cases would seriously affect the financial results of a meeting, particularly in the case of small clubs, and that dividends should continue to be paid out according to the decision of the club stewards.

ANOTHER YEAR.

Without any alteration the handicapping system which has applied to the trotting sport this season is to continue for at least another year. Whether it has proved entirely satisfactory to all parties concerned in the sport a matter of opinion, and opinions certainly differ. It was thought that there would be an alteration in that the penalties would be fixed and nothing left to the descretion of the The conference evidently holds it is best for owners that handicappers should he allowed some latitude, and maybe this is sound. The chairman of the conference (Mr. J. Rowe) favoured an alteration and the introduction of fixed penalties. The president, Mr. H. F. Niccol, now in England, forwarded the following cable, which was read at the meeting:—"The most important reform last year was the handicapping. The results have been singularly successful. I earnestly hope that the delegates will decide to continue the movement which has given the public and the majority of owners and trainers such satisfaction." Mr. Rowe, after the reading of the cable, said from Mr. Niccol's point of view as an owner and breeder the system may be regarded as a success, but judging by the many complaints heard it had not been so.

SHORT SHRIFT.

The remit presented on behalf of the Inangahua Club that there should be a fixed set of colours and that they should be carried by drivers and riders according to the number corresponding with a horse in the race card received short shrift from members of the conference. It would have come as a surprise had its fate been otherwise, as nothing would lead to greater confusion on a racecourse than to see horses racing several times at a meeting and on every occasion the driver wearing different colours.

MR. REID'S RESIGNATION.

The resignation of Mr. R. T. Reid as stipendiary to the Trotting Conference will take effect in about three months time. No doubt the conference will call for applications to fill the position, and there is not likely to be a dearth of applicants..