Changes made to apprentice allowances

Press, 15 July 1978, Page 18

Changes made to apprentice allowances

PA Wellington Two handicapping issues, concerning apprentice allowances and challenges to handicappers, were dealt with by the annual meeting < the Racing Conference yesterday. The rules allowing claims were revised to permit an apprentice to ride 60 winners before losing all allowances.

The new scale, whch the meeting was told is similar to Australian legislation, is:—

Up to and including five wins 4.5 kg: Six to and including 15 wins 3kg:

16 to and including 30] win' 2.5 kg: 31 tr and including 60; wins I.skg. Another move, by the Te, , .roha Jockey Club, to allow claims in two-year-old races, j was rejected. The conference also re-; moved from the rules a provision under which an owner may challenge the weight allocated his horse in a handicap. It has been possible for an owner, on paying a $2O deposit, to seek the stewards’ adjudication on a weight. The conference agreed to this deletion in a resolution promoted by the pvpf utive. There was little substantive discussion on the issue, except that Mr J. E. Brunton i (Otago) noted that there was no longer provision in the Rules for correcting a genuine error made by a handicapper. He suggested there should be such provision but received no support. JUMPERS’ WEIGHTS

Rules relating to jumping races and hunters were amended, the most significant being that a 60kg minimum for maiden and class “B” jumping races was promoted. This minimum was connected with the allowance of claims in such races. Under the new Rule, races in which existing allowances

may be claimed are no longer categorised as events with a stake of $4OOO or less but are hurdles, brush hurdles or steeplechases for 'maidens, class "B” horses or both.

In addition, such races will be handicapped on a 60kg minimum with claims allowable down to 57kg. Class “A” races will retain the 57kg minimum and no allowances will be permitted in these

The new rules, which will take effect on January I, vere largely the u’ork of Mr J. E. Brunton, of the Otago Hunt Club. The final form of the Rule ' was not as printed in the [order paper but saw amendments promoted by Mr Brunton passed into the Rules by the conference. , The conference also passed a new Rule, under an [executive committee resolu- ■ tion. which requires that a [jockey having his first jumping ride must produce his licence or certificate bearing an endorsement from a stipendiary steward permitting him to nde in a jumping race. It appears from the wording of the rule that this will apply to amateurs as well as professionals.

In the area of hunters, the conference removed a clause compelling huntclubs to programme races for qualified hunters. It will still be open to such clubs to do so. but the intention is to provide the opportunity for more variety in hunt club programmes. Under the new Rule a hunt club programme must include an amateur riders’ race a steeplechase and a hurdle or steeplechase either for maidens or for the winners of j it more than $2OOO. A Waikato amendment to alter this last condition simply to class “B” was defeated after the president of the Hunts Association, h r Plunkett, asked for his opinion, endorsed the objective of encouraging jumpers which had not had a lot of experience.