DOMINION'S RACING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 162, 11 July 1930, Page 9

DOMINION'S RACING.

MANAGEMENT GOOD. STIPENDIARY STEWARDS' REPORT. UNRULY HORSES AT BARRIER DUTY OF STARTERS. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") , WELLINGTON, tliis day. At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Racing Conference to-day the executive committee submitted the report of the chairman of the stipendiary stewards for the past season. The report stated that the management of race meetings had been very good. The rule relating to unruly horses at the starting barrier did not receive from the starters the attention it merited. Frequently starts had been delayed unduly, and the chances of other competing horses interfered with by the non-compliance of starters with the rule directing that any horse, likely by, misbehaviour to prevent a fair start, should be placed in the rear of the field. In some instances it had been apparent that the starting barriers had not been as efficient as they should be, and on occasions had been slow to act. Weighing Machines. With reference to weighing machines of a standard nature it was noted that very little improvement had been effected during the past year. The compilation of race cards still showed laxity at times, and occasionally names of competitors did not appear in the cards, and notices rectifying the error had to be exhibited on 'the totajisator and elsewhere. ' . Improvement of Courses. The committee was pleased to state that clubs still continued to improve courses and appointments, a fact much appreciated by the public. The attendance of the public at various race meetings had been quite satisfactory, and, despite the financial stringency, totalisator investments had been well maintained. Jumpers Deteriorated. The racing had been of a high standard and class well represented with the exception of jumping events, where, temporarily at any rate, competitors appeared to have deteriorated a little. Some time back the stipendiary stewards were requested to furnish individual reports as to the cause, in their opinion, of the frequent falls in flat racing. These reports were in the hands of the executive and probably would engage the attention of the conference. The conduct of the majority of trainers and jockeys had been satisfactory, but they regretted to say there had been sundry cases of bad misconduct. Efficient control of jockeys' rooms remained lax in many instances. Persons in charge of these rooms appeared to have only the most hazy notions as to their duties and thug many individuals who had no interest in the meeting, were allowed to remain in an often too crowded jockeys' room. It was suggested that clubs issue more definite instructions as to necessary duties of the officers in charge. This matter was referred to at greater length in a previous report and matters improved considerably, but they were now drifting back to the old order. The conditions imposed by rule 5, part iv., as to nominatoin and acceptance for horses were not carrjed out by come clube as they should be, and cases had occurred lately where horses had been, started and won a stoke which should have been ineligible to start, and whose names should have appeared in the forfeit list. New Zealand bred horses still continued to more than hold their own in Australia and elsewhere, and this fact augurs well for the horse-breed-ing industry in the Dominion.

Racing Dates. The new season's list of dates of race meetings submitted for next season's meetings was approved by the dates committee of the 'conference with the following amendments: — Tranaki Hunt, granted August 30 instead of September 6; Otago Hunt, September 13 instead of Sepetember 6; Geraldine Racing Club, September 25 and 27 instead of 25 and 26; Marlborough Racing Club, February 27 and 28 instead of October 3 and 4; Poverty Bay Turf Club, October 30 and November 1 "instead of October 23 and 25; Waikato Racing Club, November 15 and 17 instead of October 25 and 27: Otaki Maori Racing Club, October 10 and 11 instead of October 11 and December 6; Waipapakauri Racing Club, January 24 instead of January 10; Wanganui Jockey Club, February 19 and 21 instead of February 12 and 14; Dannevirke Racing Club, March -11 and 12 instead of February 25 and 2G; Masterton Racing Club, April 10 and 11 instead of April 17 and 18; Waikato Racing Club, April 18 and 20 instead of April 24 and 27; Waikato Hunt Club, granted. October 27; Banks Peninsula Racing Club, November 1; Taumanmui Racing Club, December 5 and 6; Woodville Jockey Club, February 25 and 20; Whangarei Racing Club, April 30 and May 2. The application of the Oamaru Jockey Club for January 2 and 3 was not granted.

To Pay Levies,

The report recommended that the dates for the Thames Jockey Club be not approved unless the club pays its outstanding levies by the end of this month, and if the levies are not paid that the dates for the two days' racing of the club be allottecrto other clubs; if the levies are paid the club be granted January 8 and 10 instead of January 22 and 24. The application of the Brackenfield Hunt Club for a totalisator license, not being received in time, could not be considered. As a result of communications with the Minister of Internal Affairs the two floating one-day totalisator licenses had been permanently allocated to the Whangarei and Taumarunui Clubs. The racing conference report of the dates committee was adopted after an amendment to refer the case of the Oamaru Jockey Club back to the dates committee had beeu defeated.