NEW ZEALAND TROTTING ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14583, 6 February 1913, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND TROTTING ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of tho New Zealand Trottiig Association was held yesterday afternoon. Present—Mesrs P. Selig (presid'ont), R. 0. Duncan,. W. H. Denton, 11. F. Nico'll, W. G. Garrard, W. Hayward, and C. S. Howell. An apology for absence was received from Mr-A. Id. Samuel.

Tho following disqualifications, imposed oy the New South Wales Trotting Club, were endorsed:—E. J. Geale and H. Gca'.e, of Wagga, and tho bay gelding Masher, for thr*© months from December ISth, 1912.

The application cf tho Wnikato Trotting Club for re-registration was agreed to. Mr A. Montgomery, of Te Puke, who had been called on to show cause why he ehculd not bo disqualified for failing to carry out the wishes of the Association, wrote explaining that it was duo to a misunderstanding that he had not forwarded the statutory declaration a=ked for previously in connection with tho T.maru-Tring Paxk case. He now forwarded the declaration.

Tho explanation was accepted as satisfactory.

Messrs Hill and Fraser, solicitors, wrcte on behalf of an Auckland firm of solicitors, tor cop;es of the evidence and minutes of the Association's meeting in connection with tho Tring Park case.

It was decided to »„ for "hat reason the documents wero required. t>«--_- t r Tho secretary of the Forbuxy "?»* T -|jwrote, stating that the letter of Mr A. jj. Hudson, owner of Bermaline, to**" o ** .?> tiie Association, had been considered. oy ire stewards, who were of the opinion "» at allusion contained in the letter to Mx -cj.. ono of the stewards, was unwarranted aid requested that ho should be asked to -.__• draw it. , The Association decided to take no fuTt_.«action in the matter, and the letter was received. . , Tho President reported that no reply nad been received from E. Kemp, who had been called upon to show cause -why ho shou.Q r.ot be disqualified for failing to inform Ue Association of his purchase of tho horso Laitdervale.

It was decided to make further enquiries into the matter. The Gore Racing Club reported that at its Summer Meeting J. Grice, the driver of ho Soon, had been disqualified for throe months for interference, and tho horse disquaimed for the race.

Tho Club's action was endorsed. The action of the executive in removing the disqualification incurred in with unregistered trctting events at Wairau Valley was endoiecd. It was a'so agreed *o remove the disqualifications incurred in connection with the Barry's Bay sports. The New Brighton Trotting Club wrote, asking the Association for a ruling as to whether any gear attached to the legs, other than boots," should be permitted on a horso in a race for unhoppkd trotters. It was decided to refer tho letter back to the Club for fur'her information.

The application of J. Bevnn for permi«s:cn to change the name of his horse, Joo Davis, to Home Rule, was rofuecd.

Tho committee appoints to investigate the facts in relation to the "Soda" case, which had occurred in connection with the Waikouaiti Racing Club's Meeting on New Year's Day, presented it 3 report. After reviewing the fact-? tho report, continued: —

It ivou'd appear that, taking all tho circumstances into consideration, the re-handlcap was not justified by tho rules and was improper. It is the business of a handicapper to make himself acquainted with the performances end the engagements °" the horsey he is handicapping. This is the practice w-.th officers of both trotting and juckey clubs. Jn this case it ivou'd have been a very easy matter for the Waikouaiti Boeing Club's handicapper to have secured tho necessary information from Christchurch in plenty of timo to alow of his handicaps being published on duo date. Tho handicapper, however, took no action until thirteen days after his adjustment had been published, and 11 tho official book programme on tho day of the racos "Soda" appeared on tho 2Sseo mark. This, the cub explains, was owing to Borne difficulty of prii.ting. It a handicapper wove allowed to re-handicap a horse after acceptance because of some performance ootwecii the dato of entry and the declaration of tho handicap, it would open the door o unfair practices, and m ght lead to loss of confidence in the handicapper. It would oo impo:-ible in all cases to know for certain whether or not tho handicapper did actually know of tho win when making tho handicap, nnd had taken it into consideration, or whether or not some other, and possibly improper, ground had influenced him. This is no doubt why the rules provido for re-handienp-ping only in tho case of matters arising after handicaps havo been declared, and which a handicapper therefore could not possibly have known when making a handicap, and the inference is that a handicapper should have his information whero before doing his work, r.nd iv tho present case it was possible. When questioned Mr Masham stated it did not occur to him that the handicapper would not havo all information abcut "Soda's" running before declaring the handicaps; it was tho practico of handicappcrs to secure this. Under tho circumstances mentioned the rehandicapping of ''Soda" was improper, and operated unfairly against Mr Masham. It operated unfairly against him and other members of the public who invested their money in tho totalizator on "Soda" before tho re-handicapping was- decided upon by the club. Tho stewards having assembled on tho course should havo held their bela-.ed meeting at tho earliest opportunity, before tho first race. But they waited till after the raco before "Soda's" event, before deliberating, -md it was not, as already staled, until ten minutes before the trotting event, and nft<»r tho totnlisator had bcicn opened, that hey mado their decision to adopt tho handicappcr'6 ie-handicap known. The decision was not a unanimous ono. Mr Masham clearly has no right to the stake because his maro did not win. As to his c'aim, tho comur.ttc-co-»ider that in equity he is entitled to consideration from tho club. It ia a question of what would be fair and rcafcnnblo in _ho ci-cunistnncos. As to tho suspension of the rider of "Soda," and tho infliction of tho fino of £o upon Mr Masham, the committee is of tho opinion that tho stewards of tho club were within their rights. Tho committee recommend that the ca.se. with this rinding, be tent back to the club.

After a brief discussion. tho 'report was adopted and it was decided to forward copies to tho Waikouaiti Club and to Mr Masham.

Programmes, as passed by tho executive, wero approved, and soma additional programmes pafscd.

On the recommendation of tho Foreign Horso Committee certificates of registration wero issued for Jenny Lind (imp.) and Our Aggie (imp.). Tho Licensing Committee recommended tho issuo of a number of licenses, the applications of E. S. Groat and Thomas Chapman being declined. The committee recommended that a sum of £7 be voted out of the Provident Fund to T. W. Woodham nnd £5 on account to D. Withers in respect of their accidents, and that the application of H. E. Barnes be referred to tho Bo_rd.

Tho report was adopted. The. application of H. E. Barnes was in respect, of an accident on Juno Ist last, md it was decided to ask him why ho had not reported it to the Association earlier.