RACING CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 258, 24 July 1908, Page 4

RACING CONFERENCE.

ANNUAL. MEETING OF DELEGATES. ALTERATIONS TO RULES. The annual Conference of .representatives of tho New Zealand Jockey Club commenced its sitting at the Chamber of Commerce yesterday morning. Tlio President (Sir G. Clifford) was in tho chair, and tho various metropolitan and district racing clubs were represented as follow:—Auckland Racing Club, Hon. E. Mitchelson and Mr. M. M'Lean; Auckland County Clubs, Messrs. E. W. Alison, M.P., AY. 11. Herries, M.P.; Canterbury Jockey Club, Sir Geo. Clifford, Mr. F. li. Pyno; Canterbury Country Clubs (Sc-uth), Messrs. H. Friedlander, E. R. Guinness; Canterbury Country Clubs (North), Mr. G. T. Seymour; Dunedin Jockey Club, Mr. P. Miller; Otago Country Clubs, Messrs. J. Latham, and C. W. Reid; Hawke's Bay Jockey Club, Mr. G. Hunter, Hon. J. D. Ormond; Hawko's Bay Country Clubs, Messrs. E. J. Gothard and John M'Vay; Waiiganui Jockey Club, Messrs. E. Campbell and H. M. Speed; Waiiganui Country Clubs, Mr. E. Goodbeherq; Wellington Racing Club, Messrs. J. W. Abbott and AV. H. S. Moorhouse; AVellington Country Clubs, Messrs. AV. E. Bidwill and O. C. Cooper; Taranaki Jockoy Club, Hon. O. .Samuel; Taranaki Country Clubs, Mr. A. W. Budge; Greymouth Jockoy Club, Mr. E. J. Fitzgibbon, appointed-by Mr. Hannan ; • Greymouth Country Clubs, Messrs. ~W. Coleman and C. Hood-AVilliams; secretary, Mr. AA r . H. Wankiyn. ■ . , LICENSING OF BOOKMAKERS. Tho President in his report stated:—"lt is in tho interest, of all concerned -that our racecourses should ho as free from dan'gor as possible. •_ It is therefore permissible to recall that in 1902 we passed a resolution that on complaint appearing to the President to justify an inquiry, he should appoint inspectors to report upon tho safoty or proper appliances of any course. It. is encouraging that no necessity appears to havo arisen for siich "complaints. At the same time, it would be well for all racing clubs to remember their moral obligation in this respect, and in the provision of appliances for surgical aid. Tlio District Relief Funds are available at tho discretion of tho metropolitan committees for the latter purpose.

"During tho past season wo have watched, with anxiety, the results of an innovation forced upon tho managers of our race meetings in spite of unheeded protests. 'Members of this Oonforonco saw, with- oonsternation, many fruits of their patient policy in tho improvements, of tho turf imperilled by one hasty stroke of the Legislative pan. In their .'poworlossness to avort this calamity, the racing clubs of New Zealand have, I think, shown great moderation and self-restraint in adapting themselves to now conditions. As to tlio comparative harmfulness of tho totalisator and tho bookmaker,, it may not. bo usoless to reiterate, that tho former is temporary, silent, and absolutely confincd to its purpose, whereas, tho latter is übiquitous, persuasive, and by; no means limited to a' single form of speculation. Tlioso distinctions have boon'too often enlarged upgn to require further emphasising, but upon them ..mainly centre tho considerations which led this Conference to believo that pure sport .was greatly* safeguarded by substituting tho machine for tho human layer, of odds. What abuses , woro attributed to tho. totalisator mainly resulted from a crafty adaptation of its system to their ends by the proprietors of the tote shops. The Racing Conference's ioffer to.tho community has always boon this': .—'Clean betting untainted with temptation to ' trickery ■ or fraud, restricted ill its ■: nature to moderate amounts, aiid utilising its profits to improve-your sport, and your • means.of enjoying it.' .Wo have endeavoured to make racing as far as possible a sport, aud' not-a business, and wo resent tho compulsory admission .of .bookmakers to our courses as a retrogrado stop. While cpnformiiig loyally to a law of which wo "disapprove, we "can only trust'to tho common scnso.of our..supporters to minimise its evils, t "By tho licensing of bo.olqnakers attention is drawn to a danger against which this is not -tho -first protest.. ..Thoir-ownership of-horses is, ill somo hands, liable to abuses, and in all ij^S"murt r giif6 v Thiiik':for a moment what would bo said if tho working j manager of' the' totalisator ran horses.. 1 With : ii bookmaker 'licensed- or unlicensed, v tho objection is oven accentuated. For'tho satisfaction of tho public, and tho maintenance of their own repute,: it'•'would thorefore'. bo: bettor to have ■ strict Regulations on this point.' '■You will have noticed,, with satisfaction, that tho English Jockey Club has dono this Conference the' honour of electing its President an honorary member of tho club, and you will, I am' sure, .desire mo to convey to tho Jockey Ciub your .thanks for a recognition all tho more to'''bo'valued becauso rarely granted, and, for my part, quite unsolicited. . ■/

"The usual statistics have been compiled ■for your guidance. They contain.much that is 'suggestive, and interesting. It may be specially noted that the following clubs appear to have met with a poor response from the public, the percentage of stakes to totalisator receipts being:— ■ Average Clubs. ' 1906-7 1907-8 Horses per Race Northern Wairoa R.C. 234 642 3£ To Aroha J.C 219 574' • 4} WaiJii -J. 0.. 136- " 417 5 Rotorua J.C 169 298 5. South Auckland R.C. 94 217. -54 Alexandra J.C. 221 . 324 .4. Maniototo J.C. 183 235 4J Kaikoura R.C. ' 333 ... 282 5... "Whangarci R.C. ...... .150 . 228 4\ The difficulty with most of these struggling clubs is in their' inability to attract liorseowhors. Somo •of them . would bo- well advised to amalgamate with neighbouring clubs. There is an instance in which extension from a one-day meeting to two days' racing appears to have been followed by disaster, and,in ono caso at least, defectivo administration will, unless remedied, lead to certain with'drawal of the permit. Those clubs showing a low proportion of stakes to totalisator receipts will doubtless tako note of tho necessity of liberality. Somo of them are burdened with heavy liabilities, and some show low percentages' from sudden prosperity, but irho majority should prevent their inclusion in this list for another season.

"Nothing is easier;than to find fault, but in the capacity of critic I am only surprised that in the complex administration of the of racing thero is. so little to carp at. In ■ all competition there will bo found in-dividual-competitors who will not shrink from questionable tactics, but in my belief the New Zealand Turf is, onv:th'o wholo, singularly freo from abuses. Where suspicion attaches, impartial investigation usually follows, and recent records show that discovery, meets with condign.'punishment. • What is required to complete.our system is that club's should work in harmony for tho detection of fraud when initiated at one meeting and carried to completion at another. • The augury for the futuro is good, and it rest 3 mainly with this Conference to ensure its realisation." ...... CLUBS' ADMINISTRATION. Mr. Herries said in. the-,case of tho small clubs it was difficult to. persuade tho 'people to patroriiso tho totalisator, ' because tho small fields at those, meetings.'only admitted of dividends being paid qn Vilie first horse, and 'the-bookmakers-consequently got most of tho business'. In this respect the chango from a one day's fixturo'.to a two days' fixture had been disastrous for some clubs. In regard to tho case of defective administration, Mr. -Herries asked j-Ho President to, name tho. club. ■ • / v". The Chairman said the Xaikoura Racing Club was tliC: one referred' to. Ho thought tho Metropolitan Club should investigate tho matter.

Mr. F; 11. Pyne (Canterbury. J;C.) said his committoo was taking action, but tho inquiry was not yet concluded. Tlio - Chairman considered tho Permits Committco should hold over.-the Kaikoura Club's permit till the affair was cleared up. Mr. \V. E. Bidwill remarked that whilo on tho question of "defective administration," he would like to call, the attention of tho Conforonoo, to tho ease ■ of u racing dub -who had granted tho gositioh' of • startor to

nil individual tliat had not long ago been under the bann of a disqualification for life. Perhaps that disqualification was now removed, but tho position of starter was such an important one that the club appeared to be_ establishing a bad precedent in the appointment they had maae.

Mr. G. Hunter referred to tho great compliment that had been paid to the Now Zealand Hacing Conference by tho English Jockoy Club in the appointment of Sir Geo. Clifford as an honorary member of that body. He moved that tho Conference convoy to the 'English Jockey Club its appreciation of the honour done. This was seconded and carried, and the President's report and the various statements of - accounts wero' duly ndopted. DATES AMD PERMITS COMMITTEE. Messrs. J. W. Abbott, H. Friedlander, C. Hood-Williams, E. W. Alison, M.P., J. M'V.iy, and E. Goodbehcre were appointed tho Dates and Permits Conunitteo to consider tho fixtures for the ensuing season. Their report will bo placed before tho Conference to-day. Mr. A. A. M. M'Kellar was appointed auditor. REPORT OF COMMITTEE RE COLOURS. The committee appointed to consider tho question of race colours (consisting of Sir George Clilford (president), Hon. G. M'Lean, Hon. J. D. Ormond, and Mr. G. Hunter) furnished its report, which recommended inter alia that: —"No colours shall bo registered except under tho designation of the following colours, or of one of the colours grouped together—'White, black, . brown (grouped with chocolate, seal brown, and terra cotta), dark blue (grouped with navy bluo. peacock' blue, royal blue, and Oxford blue), light blue (grouped with sky blue, Cambridgo blue, and turquoise), dark green (grouped with olive green, emerald green, applo green, moss green, myrtle green, and sago green), light green (grouped with oau do nil and sea green), cerise or magenta, red (grouped with scarlet, cardinal, crimson, maroon, and claret), pink (grouped. \\;ith salmon, rose, vieux rose, pale iosa, and tleep rose), orange or tangerine, yellow (grouped with amber, buttercup, gold, old gold, canary, and straw), purple , (grouped witlr violet and heliotrope), mauve, ■ or lavender, groy (grouped with French and Bteel grey), drab or khaki, tartans."

_It was decided, after considerable discussion, to adopt the report of the committee. The same 'gentlemen were rc-appointed to undertake the work of notifying owners throughout the Dominion of the changes that •will be necessary if the new system is incorporated in the Rules of Racing. At the next Conference the report will probably come up as a notice of motion to amend the rules. ■ GAM IMC AND LOTTERIES ACT. Tho' special committee appointed to report on the working of the Gaming and Lotteries Act stated that " it considers it inexpedient at present, to make any suggestions as to tho general work of the Act, or to alter tho present regulations as recommended by the special meeting of the Racing Conference in January last, in view of the fact that tho whole matter is still in t nil experimental stage. Tho committee, however, are satisfied that tho procedure of racing clubs in observance, of the Act should be uniform, aud therefore advise tho incorporation of the regulations in tho Rules of Racing." - AMENDMENTS TD RULES. The following amendments to tho rules were, made:— On tho" motion of tho President, seconded by Mr. Pyne, it was resolved to amend Part IV, Rulo 6, by adding the words " or tho Official Forfeit List published by the recognised tur.f .authority of any country." Pago 23. Part VI, Rule 4—That tho following words be added to the rulo:—." Nor on any course which is not sufficiently railed on the 'insido of the racing track, unless tho comniitteo of tho club can show to the satisfaction of: the president that it is-unable to perform the neccssary work."—Carried.. By the President, at tho request of handicappors.—Pago 37. Part XV, Rule I—Strike out all tho words after " any raco" in tho second lino, and substitute "or enter an unnamed horse in any'handicap shall be fined by tho president 5 soys; for every timo he shall so run or enter such horse."—Carried. By tho President.—Pago 37.. ...Part XV, Rulo s.—That'tho words ." or which has been previously entered in the New Zealand Stud Book "bo inserted after,tho word '.'country " in the second lino.—Carried. ' N ,• Pago 41. Part XVI, Rulo 7.—After tho word "wife" in the first lino, insert tho words' "or any person permanently resident in tho establishment."—Carried.

. By the Wanganui Jockey Club.—Pages 49 and 108^ —This was a mption to amend the form of application for a trainer's license so that the trainer be compelled to answer questions similar to those in the form of application for jockey's license. Tho motion was carried in slightly amended form. By the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club.—Pago 57.- Part XXIII., New Rule.—Unless when specially sanctioned by tho Metropolitan Club, no gentleman rider, or emergency ridor, shall ride in any race in which moro than- 0110 horse owned by him runs, and if ;he rido in a race iii which a horse owned by'liim runs, ho shall ride that horse. If any igentlemau -rider, or emergency rider, shall ll'ail' to'comply with this Rule, tlie horse, in respect of which such failure to comply, :shall havo occurred, shall bo disqualified for the race. —Carried. By the President.—Pago-71. Part XXX., Rulo 2.—To add to the Rulo:—"And owners of such horses shall give notice to tho secretary of tho club not later than the hour of acccptanco or .final payment. If notice is not so given, tho owners shall bo fined by tho■ stewards in a. sum of not less than-10 sovs., and not exceeding 100 sovs.; and also shall be liablo for any'loss occasioned directly or indirectly through omission to givo such notice."—Carried. Pago 84. Part XXXII., Rulo B.—After tho word "Calendar" in tho third line, to insert these words, "or in the Official Forfeit List published by tho recognised turf authority of any country."—Carried. Page 89. Part XXXIII., Rule 3.—That the; word "lawfully" be inserted after the word "appoars," in tho second liiio.—Carried. N 'By tho Hawko's 'Bay Jockoy Club.— Pago 94. Part XXXV., Rule 2.—Aftor tho words "the feo of .£l" in the soventh line, add tho Words "or such amount as may bo fixed by tho Conference from time to time by special resolution." —Carried.

'"By tho'President.—Page 100. New Part XXXVI—The various regulations passed by tho Special Conference in January last in connection with tho licensing, of bookmakers wbro all carried without alteration, and will in futuro form part of tho Rules of Racing. By the Dunedin Jockey Club.—Page 109. Form 7, Appendix.—Add to quostious:— "Aro y'ou owner, part owner ( lesseo, or part lessee of any horse?"— Carried. By the Hawke'a Bay Jockey Club.— Pago 110. Form 9.—Fourth ( paragraph, after tho word, "application" add:—"Together with particulars of at least twelve mounts during tho currency .of the last license held by applicant, or if ho has not had twelve mounts then'of tho mounts lie has had."—Carried.

By tho Auckland Country Clubs (per Mr. AV. H. Herries).—"That a committee be appointed to report to tho next annual Conforenco as to the desirability and feasibility of reducing tho numbor of days' racing held by the various clubs using the totalisator, and to make such recommendations thereon as they may think fit, tho committoo to consist of tlio President, Hon. 0. Samuels, Mr. Fricdlandor, and tho mover." —Carried. Mr. Herries, in moving this resolution, said it was iu consequence of a ulodim that he had mado to the Government last session that the Racing Conferonco would look into tho question. Ho thought it possiblo that when tho committco furnished its report it might hot recommend reduction, but oil tho other hand it might, and if it was necessary to rcduco the number of days' racing it was .better that tho question should bo handled by the Racing Conference; which understood it, t-hali by tho Legislature, which did not. AMENDMENTS NEGATIVED. Three, rather important resolutions moved by the Hawke's Bay Jockoy Chib failed to receive.,the support necessary for their being passed as .Amendments to Rules.- It was Bought to havo the disqualification for tak-ing-part in, unregistered meetings fixed-at

not less than two years. Mr. G'. Hunter said it was apparent that persons who took part in these moetings relied, on the good liaturo of clubs to remove their disqualification after a brief period. His club had made a rule of not removing these disqualifications under two years. The Conference, however, voted against his motion. The Hon. J. D. Ormond spoke in favour of a mile and a quarter race on each day's programme of every club. Ho thought'such tin innovation was not unreasonable; that it was a step in the direction of improving the endurance of the thoroughbred; that it would meet with public favour; aijd that as less depended on the start it was a fairer tost. Messrs. G. Hunter aud F. H. Pyne also spoke in favour of distance races, but the proposed alteration did not meet with support of the majority. The Hon. J. D. Ormond also moved that each day's programme of-every club holding meetings between June 7 and September 1 contain at least two steeplechases. He .pointed out that the public took a great interest in this class of race. As far as owners wore concerned, it.scarcely paid them at the present time to keep 'chasers, as there wero so few races and it was quite likely that the 'chaser would almost disappear if some steps wero not taken. Tho motion metwith considerable opposition, and was lost. The Wanganui Country Clubs desired the Conference to pass a rule compelling the starter to dispatch his fields from "the outside of the course," and also to raise the maximum th?.t a, starter can fine a jockoy from .five sovereigns to ten sovereigns.- Both motions were lost.. Considerable discussion took place over the question of fines, Mr. H. Friodlander infusing a little humour into the argument by averring that it was the starter that should bo fined, and not the jockey. • j CORRESPONDENCE. A letter, from the Foxton' Racing Club, asking for a ruling "as to\ whether a caretaker was an official of a club, was dealt with, tho President ruling that lie was, and was therefore not justified in racing horses at the club's, meeting. - A" letter from Mr. Hartgill concerning matters appertaining to tho duties of clerks of scales, was referred to a committee consisting of Messrs. F." H. Pyiie, E. .R.' GuiniXess, and G. Hunter. Tho Conference adjourned till 11 o'clock this morning. :