TROTTING CLUBS

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 252, 8 July 1926, Page 13

TROTTING CLUBS

ANNUAL CONFERENCE The annual conference of representatives of New Zealand Trotting Clubs was held yesterday,the president (Air, E. !<’. Nicoll) presiding over a lull attendalTli'e president in iiis address referred to the benefits accruing from improved supervision oi racing, and the work ot the racecourse inspectors. The starting in New Zealand, ho claimed, was better than in any other country. The burden of taxation was still weighing heavily upon clubs, and se\eral were finding it difficult to carry on. Regret was expressed tliat the promised relief in taxation only amounted to H per cent, on the first drib,o4l(l. put through the totalisator, and that it was coinpulsory that this should be spent on permanent'improvements. This concession was of very little benefit to the struggling clubs who were requiring money to pay for upkeep and repairs, and had no pressing need to spend money on improvements. The New Zealand Sports Protection League organised a deputation to the Minister last April on this and other subjects of importance to racing and trotting, and were enabled to place their views at length before the Hons. Bollard and Rolleston, who gave a sympathetic hearing. and Mr. Bollard promised to bring the suggestions before the Premier for his consideration. Trotting in New Zealand had reached such a standard, and the support accorded to it by all classes was so evident, that they could not aim too high in the endeavour to see it entirely free from reproach. One of the exhibitions for a visitor to New Zealand to view nowadays was the sport of trotting as carried on at any metropolitan grounds, and by most country clubs. It was a sport with which they were proud to identify themselves, and they knew that many visitors who had never seen trotting before immediately understood the great attraction it possessed, and became themselves converts to this most popular pastime. Mr. John Howe (Auckland) proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the president for his address, and that a copy.of the address be forwarded to all clubs in New Dominion.

The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Mr. McKenna (New Brighton) moved to add to rule 24 that “no appeal shall be allowed against the decision of the association by any person whose, application for a license to train, drive, or ride, or to any person whose application to register a horse has been refused, or to any person registration of whose horse has been cancelled.” Mr. McKenna considered that the extra rule would be fairer to all concerned. The motion was lost. . ~ A remit forwarded by the executive stated that if an agricultural and pastoral association wished to put on trotting events for children under fifteen years it should not be deemed a race meeting, an tin -egistered meeting, or a sports meeting for the purpose of this rule. The rule merely relieved such a body from applying to the Trotting Association for a permit. This w - as carried unanimously. The New Zealand Trotting Association moved: “That the present system of handicapping be altered, and that no horse be penalised unless it has won a race.” Mr. Green, the mover, considered that the new rule would bo all for cleaner racing, and would encourage drivers to go all out for place money. He stated that it had been,tried in New South Wales, and had proved a success. After a lengthy discussion the proposal was defeated. . , The Ashburton Trotting Club, represented by Mr W. Bryant, moved to add the following words to rule 98 concerning unruly and vicious horses at the start: “The stipendiary stewards shall report to the association any horse which they consider vicious or unruly at the starting post. The association may advise clubs that the entry of such horse shall not be accepted during the pleasure of the association.” The motion was lost. A lengthy discussion took place on the remit in connection with the drawing for places by horsemen previous to a race. The New Zealand Trotting Association wished to have the proviso added that the drawing for places should be conducted “by the stipendiary steward, or a steward of the club, before the time appointed for weighing out.” The motion was carried. The executive moved in connection with the starting of races a new rule but an amendment by Mr. W. H. Rob-

erts to amend the sterling rule to read ns follows: "Tn all races other than handicap events the horses shall, life drawn up in an order tn he determined hy lot, and the start shall be a standing one?* was carried. . The New Zealand Trotting Association moved in the direction of having all races “started with tapes cr worsted suspended across the various marks at the start of the race.” The motion, with the deletion of the word 'tapes, was carried. , ~ „ Mr. TJ. Fraser, on hehalf of the Tima'ru Trotting Club, moved: "That it be recommended to the Pricing Conference that in future arrangements be made with the Trotting Conference that no alteration of dates be allowed without being agreed to by both bodies. Tn the event of a disagreement original dates to stand.” Mr. Fraser instanced cases of the claehinc of dates. The recommendation was lost. The election of officers resulted ns follows: President. Mr. TT F. Nicol] (reelected); vice-president. Mr. J. Powe (reelected): executive and dates committee. ATessrs T) S. Trwin. T. 1?. McKenzie. C. AT. O’livier, with the. president and vice-president. Mr. Nicell stated that the Pacing and Trotting Conferences had again clashed, and he understood that there had been s mo dissatisfaction by the Press on account of this. T T o asked suggest ions from members re the alteration of the dales of the conference. _ Tt was the general opinion that the two conferences should not be held on the sfime dav. nnd eventually it was decided that the matter of dales ho loft in the bands of the executive to decide. The lief of trotting meetings as suggested by the Dates Committee was adopted-