RACING RULES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 567, 23 July 1909, Page 9

RACING RULES.

THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

"A PERNICIOUS LAW."

STIPENDIARY STEWARDS PROPOSED. I ' ARE RACE-DAYS TOO NUMEROUS f Tho New Zealand Racing Conference, which was held yesterday morning and afternoon at the Chamber of Commerce, discussed a largo number of questions of vital interest to the sporting public. Sir George Clifford presided, and the affiluted clubs were represented as follow:—Auckland Rocmg Club (Messrs. J. P.lHartland and G. W S Pattexson), Auckland country clubs (Messrs. E. \V. Alison and W. H. Homes, MP.), Canterbury Jockoy Club (Sir George Clifford and Mr. F. H. Pyno), Canterbury countrv clubs south of Hurunui River (Messrs. H. Friedlander and C. E Tfcomns), Canterbury country clubs north of Hurunui Rivor (Mi. D. Vavasour), Dunedin Jockey Club (Hon. G. M'Lean and, Mi. P Miller). Otago country J. Latham and G M. Proctor), Hawke's Bay Jockoy, Club (Hon. J. D. Ormond and Mr. G. Hunter), Hawke's Bay country clubs "(Messrs E J. Gothard and John M'Vay), .Wanganui Jockey Club (Messrs. E. A.'Campbell and H M. Speed), Wanganui country' clubs (Messrs D. Buick, M.P., and E. Goodbohere), Wellington Racing- Cljib - (Messrs. J W. Abbott and W. H. S. Moorhouse), Wel--1 , lington- country clubs (Messrs. 'W. E. Bid- 1 will and 0. C. Cooper),'Taianaki Jockey * Otab (Mr. C. M. Lepper)/ Taranaki ooun--1 try culbs (Messrs. R. E. M'Rae and R. H I Nolan), Greymouth Jockey Club (Mr. M Hannan), Greymouth country clubs (Messrs. J. Colvin, M.P., and E. J. Fitzgibbon). ' PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. Tho president read his annual report as follows:— , ' ' Tho popularity _atjd prosperity of the turf have been atfuhdanjly evidenced during tho past season in malty ways' to those who have attended our racecourses, and their impres-1 i 'sion is amply confirmed by the statistics submitted to you. /iTns progress speaks well for the ebihty/wJuch individual clubs have shown-in increasing the attractiveness of their grounds and their programmes As tho •' standard of pacing improves by the introduction of more woight-for-age and long-distance races, so will prejudices melt away and a wider recognition bo established of our efforts to promote high-class sport and healthful recreation. The intcrost added by modorate speculation is a secondary consideration, and our aim has consisfcenbly been to discourage heavy gambling, by advocating the utf of the totelisator under proper restrictions. The totalisator automatfcally prevents/the investment of unduly .largo sums and in that and many other ways has assisted the , administrators of racing in tho maintenance > of sportsmanlike spirit. That weightforiag«> races should bo more plentiful does r not admit of contravention, and raoro of our c]nbs should aim at their encouragement. Eong-distanco races certainly appeal to spectators/"and where practicable should be more '/favoured than at present. At the sanss / tuie, ! it is fair to point out that, contrary / to" popular opinion, the best class of sprinter *• U often an animal of a strong and robust '/ type, well calculated to assist in improving t tHie breed of horses for working purposes. t f ' Bookmakers'. // , Experience of tho effcots of the legislative ' , interference- which has thrust upon us the / / conspicuous presence of bookmakers' upon our worses has net lessoned the distaste of /* all true sportsmen to this compulsion. It / was fully pointed out, before the enactment became Jaw, that to make the professional bettor a legalised iportion of tho machinery of the turf ; was fraught with many dangers, and that it tended to tho destruction or weakening of many of the safeguards with which for the past twenty jears we had been 'endeavouring with success ,to guard our pastime. The Act has been powerless to deal with abuses at which, it was aimed, and has brought into renewed existence others which we had earnestly"striven to ,suppress. I unhesitatingly the legalised connection of ' the bookmaker with the oigamsation of racing has lessened the confidence of the public /and of owners, and has exposed trainers and jockey &" to temptations from which they have long been exempt. I .sincerely trust that this pernicious Jaw may be repealed, or so amended as to restore to our meetings the happy quietude and confidence of recent years. If it pleases the" Legislature to invite the public to choose between the "trade customs" of the bookmaker, and tho silent honesty of the totalisator, wo can at least resent the infliction upon us of the invidious, duty of selection among applicants for licenses No committee of a racing club, however zealous, could adequately perform i this task, so as to protect the public The reform or purification from suspicion ,of- any profession y can only bo effectively organised within its membership.'" If we must have licensed traders m tho odds, 1 they should guard .their own hqnour and prove their m- ' tegrity to tho world. Lot them form associations, whose badges may be regarded as an indication of careful selection and trustworthiness. The' business of men unworthy in the estimation of their fellows 'to obtain the badge would quickly dwindlo, and we should hear no more of licenses stolen from racing clubs by the assumption of false names and similar doviccs In \practice, tho turf authorities cannot satisfactorily regulate bookmalmg, and so far its professors have been inactive in/ that direction,' and therefore presumably unwilling Wb say to them frankly, 'that we do,not welcome them as accessories, but that' wo emphatically call upon them for their credit and our comfort to take measures lor tho effective exclusion of such black/sheep as conspicuously discredit them 4 Unlicensed Meetings] The unchecked promotion of unlicensed meetings is,a giavo evil, which is sure, m tho minds of the misinformed, to discredit tho turf. Uncontrolled as to administration and unfettered as to number of days 'or amount ot prize money, such gate-money gatherings must contmuo to provide a refor those who are lightly debarred from participating in racing as regulated by the,stringent rules enforced by us. It cannot be too widely known that we are not responsible for this development, that this conference desires the support of authority for tho entire abolition ot such an undesirable mimicry ot sport, and that all concerned m it are by the very act disqualified i from owning, riding,'or tiaimng racehoises under our rules. , ; Law Costs, The Wellington Racing Club have asked whether the conference would participate in legal expenses possiblj consequent on refusah of licenses to bookmakers known to »-havo plied their calling at unregistered meetings I had no power to incur pecuniary responsibility of that nature, but the question so raised is worthy of the attention of tho conference Whero x other persons o(Bciaily taking part in an are ipso facto disqualified, bookmaker's whose ' position on our courses is established by statute should not escape a similar disability. Appeals, etc. Since our previous assemblage sis appeals have been lodged against decisions of the metropolitan committees. Only one of theso, and that one dismissed as frivolous, raised any question js to interpretation of the rules. Wo have to thank Dr. Eaile, and Mossrs. J W. Abbott, George Hunter, Georgo Palmer, and l l ' H Pyne for their soi vices on these occasions. Complaints have been life.of laxity m receiving nominations, and acceptances after the advertised hour of closing I would remind officials that such excess of zeal is liable to serious misinterpretation as to their own honour, and to awkward consequences if objections ensue Moreover,* an official conniving at tho success of a horse invalidly entered or accepted foi becomes a party to a fraud upon the rightful winner of tho stake ' Tho boiftwkoe with sim-pened tip or edge h/as of hvto c*us«d wrtous accidents on rncccoxirua, »nd w« slwiuld follow tho cxamplo ef •ther countries m forbidding and making the owner of a horse so shod 'lablo ' for any damage thus occasioned. Jockeys' Licenses. , Tho persistence with which tho conference has directed the attention of metropolitan nlubs to tjie abuse of iockets' licenses issued,

to applicants who have ceased \A ride has borne considerablei." fruit. . In thei'past season no unlicensed jockeys are recordedas having ridden,, but that room; .for improvement; still exists; ; statistics - licensed whoVjhail. no., rides, 28;/jockeys 'licensed r'who -had one Tide,' 25; jockeys licensed who. had -/two' rides, 23; jockeys; licensed who - had /three /rides,. .18; jockeys licensed who had four rides, 9 j total, 103// This list does/'not/include apprentices, who,/of course,' are quite differently circumstanced;.- The licensing of so many practically unemployed; jockeys .implies/either.' carelessness oil-the-part'of some licensing bodies or ah excessive liberality, which is no'-.real kindness to; its /recipients;:: ; vv;.; .• 0;.

- On'■tho^Vhpie7\':qur, , ;T'ec'6rd, for tho twelve months 'smce;; wo ; 'met; has /shown that New Zealand; more than holds her own '■'. in the produotiop of thoroughbred stock. .Having an ideal climate for the studmaster, : and an enlightened encouragement of.: the ;• right stamp; of horse, .we may pride ourselves upon making fair use of-, these: advantages, upon-haying created a demand for export,, which is a substantia] benefit to the country.' This /conference will,! trust,/always'ibear. in minds'/as it has done in the, past, that coiltinned'/su'ecess, can. only 'bey assured'-vhy energetic suppression or abuses, and rigid maintenance high standard of pure ~at. whifch it has always aimed: ,' ',;'.-

/Vv/; J ,Vi.-:: ; ;: - : \ FINANCE. . ; /? i'Tlio, statement of receipts and expenditure snowed a .balance of £233 7s. 6d.. The accident fund showed a balance of £8806 155.: 7 The president,; iri "moving the adoption of the statement of ; receipts and expenditure of tho conference and accident funds, stated that in regard'to .the accident fund they-had been particularly/fortunate, owing, to-; .the fewness of serious accidents. In the .case of one fatal accident, relatives .of,/the deceased/man had declined'. to accept 'anything more than funeral expenses. It might bo possible at some future time to further lighten' the not very heavy, burdens upon owners, in this regard.-. .

Tho'acoounts were adopted. ~ Mr. A. A. M'Kellar .was reappointed auditor for the ensuing year,

'*i ARE RACE-DAYS..INCREASING?.

The committee appointed at the last conference to consider the question of tho number of race days reported:— (1) That as regards totalisator clubs tho number of meetings lias not.increased; that tho number of days' racing had increased between 1898-9 and 1902-03 from 223 to 237, and that since that date there has been an increase of fivd days' racing. The increase in population in tho periods stated has been from 743,463 to an estimated 950,000. so that tho increase in tho number of days' racing has not been commensurate with tho increase of population shown in tho annoxed table.'

(2) That the number of days' racing held by registered non-totalisator clubs has not increased, but decreased. , (3) That the number of days' racing by unregistered clubs, over which the Racing Conference has no 'control, has unfortunately increased, and is increasing. The committee therefore do not recommend any decrease in the days of racing for totalisator clubs, nor do they recommend any increase unless under exceptional circumstances. ■

They recommend that the attention of metropolitan committees be drawn. to the increase of non-registered meetings, and further recommend that disqualifications > incurred by participation in such meetings bo not removed unless undor exceptional circumstances, or in any caso in which a warning against holding an unregistered meeting has been formally issued by'tho metropolitan committee and. published in the official calendar and, a local newspaper.

'^J-'-M:'\\ Interesting Statistics. J ;' Attached to the'. report'.Va's'; tho ( -foilowing, 'statistical table':—■.., i„'.<-W-.':U>:v-ip'<;'-I'.'.,:''.

Mr. Herries, M.P. (Auckland country clubs), moved the adoption of the report:' 'The president said ho thought the^committee's closing recommendation • was of groat importance and should at a future time be added to uhe Rules of Racing. Meanwhile, the metropolitan clubs might be asked to act upon it. • This was agreed to and the report. ,was adopted. UNREGISTERED MEETINGS. ' The president asked for the views of the comforenco as to tho question of the conference paying legal expenses arising out of refusal of clubs to license' bookmakers who have acted at unregistered meetings'. A suggestion to this effect had been made by the Wellington Racing Club, and alluded to by tho president in his address. Mr. Friedlander said it would be a dangerous for the conference to pay legal expenses. - He moved accordingly against the suggestion. Mr. E. \V. Alison seconded tho motion. In the course of discussion it was urged that tho proposal offered a suitable means of discouraging unregistered meetings. ' Mr. Alison said that the test case would probably* be lost, because the Act" only required that the bookmakers to bo licensed sliould'be of reputable oharactor, and made no condition as to their attendance or nonattendance at unregistered meetings. Mr. Friedlander said participation in unregistered mootings was a disqualification by the Rules of Racing, and therefore tho clubs had the matter in their own hands. Mr, J. Colvin, M.P.,, and others pointed out that, the proceedings would naturally be initiated by the bookmakers. Tho,-Hon. G. M'kcan, M.L.C., suggested that there would be a danger of the conference getting cases wholesale on its hands. To guard against this, a test caso might bo arranged with a few respectable bookmakers. Mr. W. H. Horrios, M.P., said it was possible that the bookmakers might, instead of taking legal action, go to the Minister for Internal Affairs. It would be a pity to ■have any-worse legislation passed than was now in force. ' Tho following resolution, moved by Mr. Fitzgibbon, was adopted:— , "That for tho purposo of securing a ruling as to whether any totalisator club can refuso to grant a license to any bookmaker who lias exercised his calling at an unregistered meeting, _ the president be empowered, if he thinks fit, to authorise any ono club to refuso a license in such case, and that tho club be indemnified in respect of any liability incurred through so refusing." Tho suggestion of tho'president id -■ the direction of prohibiting tho use of shaipedged horseshoes' was adopted. Tho president mentioned that they were already prohibited in other countries. % • ' .Mr. G. Hunter, for 1 the Hawko's Bay Jockey Club, moved to amend Part VI, Rule 6, so as to require .clubs to put on a a mile'and a quarter on oach day of every meeting. > The mover said that if, as was generally agreed, racing was designed to encourage tho breeding of good horses, 'races of the distanco mentioned wero requisite. Mr. M'Vny seconded tho motion, which was also strongly supported by Mr. Buick (Manawatu). ;Mt. Bidwill suggested that-many country clubs could not offer ■ adequate,inducements for long-d-stanco races. The amendment was negatived, tho voting being: Ayes 22, noes 16. Racing Colours. Tho president (during! tho afternoon sitting) moved tho adoption of tho report of the : committee .appointed at, tho, last conference to go into tho question of racing colours. Ho explained . that tho dift'orent shades that might be adopted had been classified by tho committee into gioups, so as to ensuro distinctiveness in jockey's costumes. Kick group, of colours would bo regarded as ono colour. The report was adopted, tho new system to come into force nu March t. 1910. The

president, the Hon. J. D. ; Ormond, ind /Mr. P. Miller were appointed a committee to act in the matter.. |: ;■■'-. Silos' Produce Stakes. jMr. Buick, for', Wariganui, moved to allow any -owner■of. progeny of a sire to nominate' such sire for a Sires Produce Stake, subject-to ; the.consent of the owner of the sire, should tho owner reside outside the Dominion.—Carried. . , .'.. Weighing. It was resolved, on the motion of the president, that: "No whip, or substitute;for aw/hip, bridle; plates, or anything worn on a horse's legs, shall be allowed in the scales, either in weighing out or weighing in." It was further made compulsory for the riders of placed horses to weigh in, under a penalty not exceeding £50'. .-: , A Starting Trouble.- . ; The president moved a new rule: "Tho starter may order any jockey who disobeys his orders, or who attempts*to take an un.fair advantage in the start of any race,',to return to the paddock, and may fine such jockey a sum not ;• exceeding £5. . He shall report, such misconduct to the stewards, and any fine shall be deemed to be a fine imposed by the stewards." The voting was: Ayes 23, noes 17.—Motion lost. "A Bold- Man." Mr. Bidwill, for the Wellington country clubs, moved to make it compulsory that all horses trained in the same stable should be bracketed : oil the machine, even though they might not belong to the same owner. He said be had.been told ho was a,bold man to bring such amotion forward. The president said he also, would .be a bold man.'' The proposal, if carried (which it evidently would not be),, would be a: most important reform .on tho. turf. _ './ 'The'motion'.was lost on the voices. ■: . ."Miscellaneous. : ;/\' , The 'conference declined to agree to a request of tie Trotting Conference, .[ which deßired: a readjustment in_ its favour of the, numbers of .racing ■'„ permits and trotting permits, issued ..annually. .' - .-, :/It;wa3 resolved, on the motion of Mr, Goodbehere,/ to make the period within which the limit ". as to weight in_ flat, races applies begin on August 31,' instead' of September; 1. It was explained l that only the: Marton-meeting: would, be affected:..' ■ It was also resolved— '.'•;•' :'.. .To draw'.the attention of metropolitan committees to the'r,ule that hunt club meetings must ; conform' to hunt 'club rules as well as racing rules. "-;\ '/'<■.; '-."••' v :/■'' To make .the wearing of skull caps by jockeys, as a protection against accident, a compulsory matter. That country clubs bo allowed to have races for stakes up to £150. That no refund should be made when the horse on which the ticket was purchased has weighed out. , The following were appointed a Dates and Permits Comnrittoe:—Messrs. Friedlander, M'Vay, Hood 'Williams, Alison, Goodbchere, and. Abbott; THE PRESIBENT. Tho re-election of Sir G. Clifford as president was agreed to'without opposition, on the motion of the Hon. G. M'Lean, M.L.C., and a resolution oipTessivo 'of the conference's high appreciation of tho ( president's services, to pure sport vas placed *n record. The president, in thanking the conference for his re-election, s*id thit recently a vary severe blow had fallen upon them, and had undono much of what they had previously accomplished.' lb' was for them to show that they wore not utterly dofeated, but were still determined to carry on their task of making racing in New Zealand a worthy example to tfio rest of tho world. (Applause.) Matters relating to _ the further purifying of Taciug, issued permits, and adjustment of dates of meetings are roported elsewhere in this issue.

• : ;V •,::,'(■''" ;■".■ ','■.'■" '■'■'• ''"'.':":'■":■ Proportion '■■'■'■■ '; '■■':■ ■.■':.". ■-..'.■.■'■'■■ of Days ' '■"-;:.■' ~: ''■'.''_".',' ,'• '\';\: -' : ; :\.'.'.\; '■■'•'■ Racing to< -I ■ r yL". ■;>..: Y : .?''i. Days '.'■'•£'■ r ' : : - ••:.' .■ every 1000 of Tear.'':' j -Racing.- ' : Population. Population. 1893 K;.;V'' 223! : ;; ■'■■■ : ; 743,463. ; ■" - !' .300 / -:1S99:.'>X;-P:221: -•.-, .736,505; ■'• V ; : :.V.296,-. \ 49flO''-'':^v l ..V ; 229 ■'■•■:'•'-'-v..-'.768,278 ■'■■,.-;".'."v' v .298 : ;: , 1901: ■■-.' ;235 ' : ■■'■ '■' .787,657' ',■•.•.". •': 1902 1 ;:.•''.£- ■*237-- 807,929*:.vl',': >W.293 .:■.% 1903: r '832,505 ;y;,i^vift283. .:'■ ■1904> :■ ; W- ■■ 236 '.'•••', ■■■:'.: ; :-.'857,539;':r>V'-? 5 : r*-!V-i27Sw" 1', ,1905." -Si-•'r 237 -■■'■■' • Vv, 882,462;:. ■:■-,. wv j26S,^^■ • ■"■1906'-■--.'•'-^."•'•'■■■"239■'"": -.' '•■•' : 908.726 1 :;'■'■;'.;' .263:>V' ''l907-'i' : V-;vSV;2iliJi-' i. -929,484 '!.::.:'■ ■■ .259 w [ ,, ■1908■.•''.rj.-j- : .-.'-:212 • ::'■ •;^'950,000\:''-•rfJ.; i ,255/:-'f ■;-.■ V;, *.:''"; '-•■ •'■'.-'' ; Y(Estimated).';'V..v'.->•- ■■',■;/;'-,