RACE RIDING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue LXI, 12 July 1930, Page 17

RACE RIDING.

INSTRUCTION OF APPRENTICES

DISCUSSED BY CONFERENCE

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TO

BEPOPT,

(By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.")

WELLINGTON, Thursday.

The need for improving the riding of apprentices, and the best means of attaining that object, gave rise to some discussion at the Racing Conference Vj cay. The question was introduced in a Wanganui remit that a committer be set up to consider and report on a scheme to improve the riding of apprentices in New Zealand, either by -way of forming a central school of instruction, or by appointing an instructor to attend at various centres to advise and instruct apprentices in the art of riding. A letter was read from Mr. W. S. Gleen urgin'" the conference to take action either by setting up a school of instruction in each island or by appointing instructors to visit the various training centres. A letter was also read from Mr. G. N. McLean, who urged that the establishment of riding schools would not materially improve the position. He mentioned that many trainers had been leading horsemen, and they knew just as much, if not more, than the riding masters who would be appointed to instruct their lads. He suggested the appointment of these leading trainers at each of the principal training centres to act as an advisory board, its certificate to be a necessary preliminary before a license was granted.

Mr. G. Gould said he was not convinced that the Wanganui remit would achieve the best results. Trainers in the larger centres should be asked to set up a committee of three of their number to instruct apprentices in the theory of race riding. "If trainers in general could be induced to take an interest in the apprentices in their district some good results might be secured.

A northern delegate said that many trainers were not competent to give proper tuition to apprentices. . Mr. J. S. McLeod thought the conference should take more interest in the apprentices. Some of the boys employed in stables would never make riders, and trainers only kept them on because they ■were good workers. Trainers should be asked to furnish reports about their boys,, explaining- why they had not been given rides in races. These boys should not be kept at a business, in which they were not likely to make a success. The only way in wliich boys could be taught properly.was.by riding in races.. Mr. H. A. Knight said that to give the boys more riding meant including more races for apprentices.

Mr. H. A. Russell said one way to improve the riding would be to get the leading jockeys to help by advising the boys where they were wrong in their race riding methods. At. present the young boys were, frightened when they got into a race. Mr. H. Lowry thought the question was one largely for the licensing committee to obtain information regarding the instruction being given the boys.

The chairman said this was being done. The racecourse inspectors had been engaged lately on inquiries into the instruction the boys were receiving and thein riding, experience. ,•

Mr. W..'T.~Hazlett considered it was impossible' to overcome the difficulty which wast, traceable to the changed times. In the old days boys learned to ride on ponies, but bitumen roads and petrol had altered that.

Mr. K M.'Firidlay urged that the remit was too restricted. He. suggested that a committee should he set up to report on a scheme to improve the riding of apprentices, leaving the method to be employed quite open.

In this amended form the remit was carried, and was referred to the executive committee to bring down a report.