THE REBOUNDING LOCK APPEAL,

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10738, 18 August 1900, Page 4

THE REBOUNDING LOCK APPEAL,

DECISION OF THE JUDGES

The following is the judgment of Sir George Clifford,' Mr J. A. Cook, and the ciom J. D. Ormond, judges, iii the matter of the Masterton Racing Club, a^oell—it, the Wclhn|ton Racing Club, re3.poctr.ents, and the disqualified horse Rebounding Lo".k:— **By Rule 117 of tht Rules of —acing, all protests and objections s>r_ v> be d-etorrnined by (he stewards, and theii decision is subject to appeal within fourteen daya 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 tbo right of appeal had lapsed, and that the original decision of the Masterton Racing Club must stand. The juiigea t'aink proper, however, to make some observations on the merits of the case. They consider that when it comes to the knowledge of the stewards of a racing club so__§ time after the meeting that a race has been won by a horse ridden by an unqualified jockey the time limit of fifteen minutes imposed by ituie 115 doss not apply. They further consider that tho rider of the horse liebounding Lock was not qualified to ride at the time of the race, and that, thcreiore, the horse was -properly' disqualified by the stewards of the Mastcrton Racing Club. In the opinion of the judges, the meaning of the Rule 142, sub-section 1, as it stood in the rule 3of 1899, 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 rules has been so. altered at the recent Racing Conference that no similar question in regard to the riding of apprentices can henceforth occur."

Sir George Clifford, who was appointed by the Racing Conference to arbitrate in the matelr of the dispute between tho Woodviile District Jockey Crub and the Manawatu Racing Club, as to the dates of their Autumn Meetings, has decided that the Woodville . Clwb is entitled to February 27th and 28th. The Manawatu Club will, therefore, require to submit another date for approval.

Nominations for the Marton Jockey Club's Spring Meeting close to-day. Only or.c of the racehorses advertised for sal. at Tastersail's yesterday was sold. This was Medaliiuu, who was secured by Mr Oman for 17 guineas. Conqueror and Skipper have changed hands privately, the former having been purchased by Mr A. Boyle, and the latter by Hr V. Harris.