THE RACING CONFERENCE REVISION OF RULES.

Evening Post, Volume LXII, Issue 17, 19 July 1901, Page 7

THE RACING CONFERENCE REVISION OF RULES.

At yesterday afternoon's sitting the Conference addressed itself to . the consideration of proposed amendments of the rules. Sir George Clifford (President) in the chair. Rule 4. Mr. Samuel moved to amend thia rule to provide that where nominations close on a Sunaay, they "may" be made on the Monday instead of the rule roading that they "shajl" bo made on that day. The rule at present prevented nominations being received on any day previous to the Monday.— Carried. Rule 7, olauae % (providing that all moneys received by clubs shall be expended in slakes, improvements to the course and stands, or payments of interest and sinking fuud or purchasemoney or generally in the interest of racing) — Mr. Samuel moved to alter the' wording «o as to enable olubs to set aside some park of their funds for emergencies. —Carried. - ' Rule IS. Mr. Baldwin moved to add the following — "The power of the stewards shall also extend to, the running of any hqrse at any other club's meeting iieid 14 days prior or subsequent to 'the meeting held under such stewards' control, inconsistent w.ith such horse's performance at the meeting last referred to." 'i'nere was some doubt as to vhethor the stewards had this power to enquire into the previous running of a horse, and he taought they should have it. Several members contended that the power was already given under rule 16, and the amendment was eventually withdrawn. . . Rule 18, dealing with the disqualification, of pervons for improper conduce to officials,— Mr. Samuel moved an amendmont which was eventually altered so that all complaints must now be made • in writing addresseu to the stewards, and in this form was agreed to. Clause 23- Mr. Nolan moved to amend the tula to make the minimum weight 7st instead of 6st 71b. After a brief , debate this was negatived on the voices. The Hon. Gk M'Lean moved that rule 26 be altered to read as. follows: — "At any meeting held on any date from the30th. June, to the Ist of September, the lowest weight in any race on the fiat shall not be less, than 9st." The object of this was to extend the date during which light weights would be carried, so as to include race meetings held on 3rd Juae, and which used tb be held on 24th May. The amendment was altered to read 10th June instead of 30th, which would mean, merely an extension of the prwent light weight season for ten days. — Negatived by 24 to 11. ■ Kule 26, providing the minimum weight to bo carried during the winter season (9st), Mr. Baldwin moved to except weight for age- races from this rule The motion wax withdrawn, on the Chairman explaining that what was desired was already provided for. Rule 32. Mr. Percrval moved to make the gelding allowance 51b instead of 31b. — Negatived - It was decided to set up a Committee ' to enquire as to whether under the rules of racing any racing' club was debarred under w.f.a. conditions from prescribing any special weight and allowances it chose for such races, The Committee appointed consists of the Hon. J. D. Ofinond, Messrs. Samuel* Baldwin, M'Vuy, and the Chairman, and* it was 'left optional with them whether they report or not. Mr, Samuel moved to alter rule 38, so that no deduction should be made from the stakes as advertised! Some olubs — only a few — now deducted 5 per cent. — Negatived. Ayes, 19; noes, 16 — not a sufficient majority. ' Rule 42a, defining hacks, brought out several amendments. The rate reads: — "In all races by the conditions of which horses which have won open races are barred from entry; no horse shall be> eligible to start which- has won a race of the value of 80 soys, or races of the collective valuo of 150 soys at time of nomination." Mf. Wilson moved to alter the figures l'sO soys to 250 uovs 1 . He pointed out that the rule acted somewhat harshly in some cases, and thought the collective amount/ of winnings should be increased: After Some debate tttis was dropped in favour of amending the rule do that when a horse wins ifiOsovs in hack company in one season it sn*all move up into the open class. Mr. Bidwill said ho had heard no complaints in the Wairarapa against the existing rule. Mr. Goodbehere, as representing a district (Wdngartui County) in which a' great deal of hack racing took place, strongly supported the proposal. Mo* tion negatived by 28 to 7. After this decision several other amendments bearing on the same subject were with' drawn. Mr. Samuel, however, moved to' add to the end' of the rule, "Horses not cli* gible by reason of winnings in flat races shall nevertheless be eligible in hurdle* races and steepleohages, und vice Versa." — Agreed to, Mt. Samuel moved to strike out rule 45, providing for the disqualification of Any one paying nomination or acceptance fees, whose cheque is dishonoured. He pointed ont that the cheque might not be presented at the bank until' after the race had been won and the stake paid over. This* might compel the club in some cases to pay the stake twice over. — Motion negatived. Ayes, 18} noes, 16— not a sufficient majority. At 5.30 the Conference adjourned till 8.10 p.m. On resuming, Rule 51, providing for the registration of names of horses, an amendment was

made hettmg out that- the registration yVnmi hi uiutle with the Secretary of the Racing Couiercucu. Rule 54. Air. Samuel inovoil the following in subqiitutiou— "iv'o person cnguged iv working a lutalisaior Uiall own or have any interest m any horse which shall be eutertd lor any race. Ko pa,id oilicial of any race meeting shall outer or start at such a mooting any hwso iv which he shall have any interest. Nothing in this ml© bhull apply to a weight for ug© race, for which a iiorso has to bo nominated wheu a foal or yearling." This h,e stud made the rule intelligible.— Negatived on the voices. Rule 69a. Mr. Baldwin moved — "No assumed name shall be registered for any partnership or association of owners." The object was to compel each member of a partnership to register an assumed mime instead' of racing under one name. Carried on the voices. Rulo 62, provided that a horse shall not start until all entrance fees that are duo in connection with it have been paid, Mr. Samuel moved to, make this rule optional, the stewards deciding the matter. — Agreed to. Rule 77 stated that overweight carried must be declared. Qaptain Russell moved to amend the clause so that the total weight carried should be made public. — Afotioh negatived. „ .Rule 91, which states that a judge must be in the box when &, race is startod, Mr. Baldwin moved to . amend to read — "At the time when the horses pass the winning .post." — Negatived. ltule 92, specifying that jockeys shall rido their horses out to the end if they have a reasonable chance of winning," Mr. Bidwill moved to strike out tho words here given "between quotation marks which would have' the oft'ect of compelling all jockeys tonde'their horses out. •^-Negatived. Rule 98, dealing with disqualifications in connection with ; woigljing-in. — Mr. Samuel moved a verbal amendment, and also another to make it clear that the disqualification should ouly apply to the particular race in ■which the jockey failed to comply with the weighjng-in rule.— Negatived. f Rule 112, relating to protests and providing that deposits will be forfeited if the protests ore not sustained — Mr. Samuel moved to amend the rule go that the money would be forfeited only if the protest was considered frivolous. — Negatived. Rule 115> regarding complaints — Mr. Samuel moved to insert the word stewjjrd, >with the objeot of making it clear that stewards can make complaint. ' It was contended that they already i had this power, and the motion was negatived. Rule 135, as to foreign horses — The Chairman moved and carried a verbal amendment to make the rule more clear. Rule 142 — Mr. Card moved to strike out tho words, "and also that no jockey's license should be issued to a jockey who is owner, part-owner, or lessee of any racehorse in training-"— Negatived by 30 to 4. i Rule 142, clause 6. Mr. Samuel moved ■ to provide -that the registration of apprentices, etc., shall be made with the Secretary of Racing Chibs, instead of with the Secretary of tho Conference. Ho believed in the principle of local government, and there was too much centralisation now.— Negatived. In the tame rule, providing ' for the payment of winning fees earned by. apprentices to their ' employers, the Hon. ' J. D. Ormond moved to strike it out as being contrary to the Apprentices Act. —•Carried. la hild 152, stating th*t> person* running horses in wrong colours may be fined 2 iovs, Mr. Ormond moved to alter the word "may" to "shall."—Negatived by 18 to 17. Rulo 163. Mr, Wilson moved that the £1 Is fee charged for, gentlemen rid-, ers* certificates bo abolished. The matter was postponed. 1 In rule 156, stating that no hurdle race should be run, over a less distance than one mile and a half, Captain Russell moved to make the distance one mile and three-quarters, as being likely to reduce the pace in hurdle races, and minimise tho risk.— Negatived. Rule 164, relating to tho voting powers of delegates to the Conference. The of'feofc of a proposal by Mr. Nolan was to give the Metropolitan clubs 22 votes and the country -clubs 18. At present the voting power i* 20 and 15.— N«(?atived. The question was h«re raised as to whether the whole of the voting at the Conference had not been, ultra vires, owing to a footnote to the rule as to voting, which stated that the basis of voting in the rules should only apply to Conference* held prior to Ist August, 1900. It was contended that the effect of this -was to do away with the system of voting which hod been followed at the Conference. Consideration of the * question was deferred until to-day. At 11 p.m. the Conference adjourned till 10.45 this morninsr.