INSURANCE FOR DRIVERS

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26465, 5 July 1951, Page 4

INSURANCE FOR DRIVERS

REMIT PROPOSED TO CONFERENCE

Among the remits to come before the annual meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Conference next Wednesday is one brought down by the executive of the conference, seeking to establish a fund |o be known as the “Accident Indemnity Fund." Each applicant for a trainer’s or horseman’s licence would be required to take an insurance cover against death or accident “at such rates and upon such terms and conditions as the executive shall determine.” In default of an applicant taking out a policy, the remit seeks to give the conference power to sign the proposals. According to the remit the conference will pay all premiums from the fund and, from time to time, appropriate the balance to the general purposes of the conference. To enable the insurance fund to be established, the remit seeks to raise licence fees to a maximum of £5.

The insurance scheme will not supersede the provident fund at present in existence, but the majority of claims on the latter fund will be met under the new plan. During the last year, a comprehensive driver insurance policy with adequate benefits at a moderate cost has been obtained through negotiations by the United States Trotting Association with a national insurance company. The plan received approval at the annual meeting of the board of directors of the association.

Because of legal obstacles, the United States Trotting Association cannot take out insurance policies on behalf of drivers, nor subsidise the insurance.

"However," says the “Harness Horse and Fair World," "an excellent policy has become available to all members of the association.”

Under the policy, drivers are protected all the year round while training and driving horses. The outstanding benefits of the programme are:—accidental death and dismemberment, 5000 dollars; a monthly benefit of 160 dollars for disability—beginning with the fifteenth day—payable for two years; and a 1000-dollar injury medical expense benefit. There is no age limit for policy-holders. The annual premium for driver-training is 40 dollars, while that for a 24-hour protection against all acidents, including driver-training, is 100 dollars.

Under the 40-dollar scheme, those insured are protected against accidental bodily injury as a result of being hit, bitten, knocked down, run over, or otherwise injured by a horse or sulky in the course of training or driving. Highland Fling’s Dam

Queen Ayesha. darn of Highland Fling and Highland Kilt, is expected to foal to U. Scott in the next few weeks. Queen Ayesha, which is rising 17, is owned by Mrs K. Bare, Halswell. Washdyke Brackets The following horses will be bracketed on the totalisator at the Timaru Trotting Club's meeting on Saturday First Opihi Handicap: Scotty’s Double and Pylon. Winter Handicap: Aerogard and Secundus. Second Opihi Handicap: Phillada and Sundari. Farewell Handicap: Dealer’s Choice and Irish Orator, First Charge and Harvest Tide, Nature Girl and White Angel, Aerogard and Secundus. Timaru Club

The following nominations have been received for officers of the Timaru Trotting Club for the ensuing year:—president, Dr. G. R. Kingston; vice-presdient, Messrs B. L. Blodorn and J. T. Crate; committee. Messrs A. Anderson. J. R. D. Clay, M F. Maze, E. D. Mcßae, J. G. Shea, and G. J. Walker. Elections will be necessary for tlie one vacancy for vice-presi-dent, and four vacancies on the committee. Results will be announced at the annual meeting of the qlub on July 25. f ßonny Brogue

Bonny Brogue is expected to race well in the Winter Handicap, the principal event at the Timaru Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday. The U. Scott mare failed over a sprint distance at New Brighton last month, but on the second day of the Ashburton winter meeting she won impressively over two miles. She appeared to be in a hopeless position with lalf a mile to run in the Acton Handicap, but, after running wide at the straight entrance, she finished with a great run to win going away from Jacquard and Helali. A sister to a useful performer in Bonny Scott. Bonny Brogue is a grand stayer, and should eventuallj’ develop worthwhile form. She is owned and trained at Addington by A. F. C. Rushton. She has been driven in most of her races by M. C. Flaws. Safety Limit for Courses Many followers of trotting on the West Coast are reported to feel that the re-cently-announced decision of the executive of the New Zealand Trotting Conference to limit the size of fields may have a pronounced effect on meetings on the West Coast. In many cases it may mean small fields, or more division races, according to the "Greymouth Star.”

The Greymouth Trotting Club is most affected by the rule, as it has the’ smallest track in New Zealand. Greymouth's fourfurlong track will now have a capacity icld of 17. Formerly up to 16. and in one place 17, horses were permitted to start from the one mark, and fields of nore than 20 were common.

Because no more than 17 horses will ne illowed to accept for any race, it is thought that the fields will be very small on wet days, as scratchings have been Heavy in the past. It is felt on the West Coast that totalisator figures may be affected. Conference Finances Tlie financial statement attached to the order paper for the annual meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Conference, wnich will be held in Christchurch next Wednesday, shows a net profit for the year ended on May 31, 19§1. of £823 3d. Levies amounting to £16.528 provided tile largest item of income, while stipendiary stewards’ salaries and expenses amounting to £6506 6s lid were tile biggest items of expenditure. Office salaries and audit fees amounted to £3155 8s 2d, the handicapper's salary and expenses totalled £2045 Ills lOd, general expenses £1205 17s Id. and travelling expenses £llO6 3s 3d. The conference paid £2121 10s 9d towards racecourse inspectors' salaries, and expenses. and £403 4s 8d for its affiliation r ee to the Inter-Dominion Trotting Conference, The balance-sheet shows that the accumulated fund now stands at £20.980 15s sd.

The accounts for the provident fund show a loss of £3l 3s 7d. Claims during the year amounted to £458. The accumulated fund now stands at £14,016 14s 7d. Trainers and Drivers

It is likely that the premierships among the trotting trainers and drivers for the 1950-51 season will be decided at the Timaru Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday. The Timaru meeting is the final meeting for the season in the South Island, and after it only two trotting events will remain to be decided before the end of the season. There is one event at lhe Waimate Hunt Club's meeting on July 14 and one at the South Canterbury Hunt Club’s meeting on July 21. At present both the trainers' and drivers’ sections are being keenly contested, and several have a chance of winning. J. B. Pringle and C. R. Berkett head the trainers’ list with 25 successes each. They are closely followed by M. Holmes, 24; J. Young. 20; N. L. Berkett, H. M Allen. W. R. Butt, 18; G. T. Mitchell, 17; E. E. Cressey, 16; C. H. Fairman, J. K. Hughes, 15; C. C. Devine. J. Walsh, F. G. Holmes. 14. Pringle shares the lead on the drivers’ list with R. Young, each having had 28 successes. M. Holmes has had 27, followed by A. W. Broughton. 24; S. A. Edwards, 23; N. L. Berkett. 22' H. M. Allen, 19; C. R. Berkett. W. R. Butt F. G. Holmes, 16; J Walsh. 15; W. Cressey. C. C. Devine. 13.