BRACKET RULE TO REMAIN

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31730, 13 July 1968, Page 7

BRACKET RULE TO REMAIN

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON. The executive committee withdrew a remit from the annual meeting of the Racing Conference yesterday which would have relaxed the rule concerning tbe bracketing of horses on the totalisator. The president, Mr R. A. Whyte, said there were legal difficulties in the proposal. "It has some traps in it," he told delegates. "We hope next year to come up with something better.” Mr Whyte said the executive was concerned as to whether the reasons advanced in support of a relaxation in the bracketing rule were sufficient to over-ride the principle of full disclosure to the public of any common interest in two or more horses running in the same race. "There is a body of opinion,” said Mr Whyte, “which considers it not necessary that horses leased from a breeder should require to be bracketed with other horses owned or leased from the same breeder.

"The argument in favour of relaxing the bracketing rule is

that once he has leased a horse the lessor no longer has any effective control over the racing of the horse." In the course of its further consideration the executive proposes to seek the views of interested parties. "We would also welcome," added Mr Whyte, “an expression of opinion from any individuals who feel they have some useful comment to offer."