RACING CONTROL

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 10, 11 July 1918, Page 2

RACING CONTROL

NEW ZEALAND JOCKEY

CLUBS

THE ANNUAL GATHERING

The annual conference of representatives of New Zealand Jockey Clubs was commenced in Wellington to-day. Sir George Clifford presided, and there was a fairly full attendance of delegates.

During.his annual address the President referred to the achievements . of New Zealand horses in Australia, and spoke of the keen love of a recreation (the general honesty of which they ara not slow to recognise) which enabled the large crowds which witnessed racing in New.Zealand to overcome the obstacles confronting them. "The stipendiary stewards," continued Sir George, "have in unobtrusive ways helped to create this confidence by their influence and watchfulness. However, malpractice, where it occurs, js rarely rooted in the sport of racing : it springs from the ex crescences which we have long aimed at extirpating. In theset efforts we have not had that full co-operation from the authorities which we had a right to expect. If illegal betting were rigorously suppressed, and the illegality somewhat extended, we should remove most of the inducements to offences on the turf. The paucity of appeals .for the year may be a sort of testimony to the good conduct of the sport. We have to thank Mr. C. P. Skerrett. K.C., and Mr. 0. S. Watkins for their assistance on the solitary appeal decided by us. ; . Many importations of thoroughbred stallions ana mares during the past twelve months will have been noted with satisfaction. Fresh blood of the best strains cannot fail in so favourable a i climate to make its influence felt. The i records of the best imported mares of I the past form a signpost towards success for the studmaster of these later times." The president also referred interestingly to racing and the war, and details of his remarks on this head are reported elsewhei-e in this issue. The address of the president was adopted with acclamation. REDUCED STAKES. ■ Conference approved of the president's action in granting permission, for various reasons, to the clubs to give a less sum in stakes than the set amount derived by such clubs from the use of the totalisator during the 1916-17 season:—Takapuna J.C., Taumarunui R.C., Waipa 8.C., Opunake R-.C, Dannevirke R.C STIPENDIARY STEWARDS. The annual report of the Stipendiary Stewards Committee stated inter alia that the control and management of race meetings continue to show general improvement, but regretted that the effective cleansing of racecourses was still sadly retarded by the non-employ-ment of effective racecourse detectives. It was urged that clubs should devote some of their profits to imperative im-. provements to their appointments. Racing during the season just closing had maintained a high standard. It' had not been necessary to challenge the running of many horses during the past year, and in those instances where corrupt practices had been proved, the inevitable punishment had followed. It was a matter for congratulation that in some cases where efforts had been made to tamper with jockeys and others connected with stables, the culprits had been severely punished. The guesser or spieler was one of the greatest menaces to clecn sport. / In regard to the totalisator, the report stated that practically the only complaints made by the public had been due to insufficient * accommodation for both receiving and paying. Concerning jockeys, it was stated that their conduct generally had been go^d, but the list of them—a very lengthy one, contained the names of many who awoeared to be in no way qualified to hold a license. Reform in the licensing system was suggested, and it was urged that no appointment to positions of judge or clerk of course should be of an honorary nature, so that it might be ensured that experts would be employed in the posts indicated. It was also* recommended that during the winter months, and in view of the curtailment of train services, jio race should be started after 4 p.m. NEW RECOMMENDATIONS. The Stipendiary Stewards' Committee recommended that a circular be j sent to all clubs, containing the following recommendations:—(l) That j in -weighing in, the first four horses should be weighed in in sequence; (2) I that an official notice board bo placed in j an appropriate place, so that the result j of all enquiries can be officially notified | for the benefit of the Press and the pub- ] lie; (3) it is desirable that starters should i be instructed to exercise their powers ' tinder Rule 6, Part XXV., as soon as a ! horse starts kicking up or playing up; j (£) the admission to the birdcage, weigh- j ing, and jockey rooms of persons having I no right to be there should be strictly ! supervised; (5) reports have been re- '• ceived that entries, etc., are not con- \ firmed in writing,' as required under Part ! •XVI., Rule 4, of the Rules of Racing. : It is recommended that the fine of 2 soys, ] provided for in the rule, should be rigidly enforced by the stewards when entries, etc., are not confirmed in writing; (6) that all clubs should have printed in their race cardsvthe following notice : "The stewards reserve the right to postpone the times notified in this race card for closing the tofcalisator and starting the race, if circumstances, in their opinion, warrant their doing so." There was some discussion on some of the recommendations, and it was pointed out that they were not mandatory, mere- . ly suggestions. The report was received, and the existing - Stipendiary Stewards' Committee was reappointed. RACING DATES. The report of the Dates Committee approved of the dates submitted by racing clubs for tho 1918-19 season, with one or two suggested alterations. Exception was taken by Mr. H. D. Vavasour to the proposal that the Methven Racing Club be granted one day in lieu of the Marlborough Racing Club, the Methven Club to race on sth December. After some discussion, the dates as allocated were not disturbed, and the report of the committee was adopted. The existing Dates Committee was reappointed. GENERAL BUSINESS. Mr. Arna.ud M'Kellar was reappointed auditor. The Hon. O. Samuel, M.8.C., was appointed a trustee vice the late Hon. J. D. Ormond, M.L.C. It was 'decided that conference should take no action in regard to the application for removal of balance of the period of disqualification imposed on the jockey F. Langetqne by tho Westland Club". It was mentioned during discussion that Langstone dnriug his disqualification had enlisted, but had been turned out of camp medically unfit. AMENDMENTS TO RULES. Conference then proceeded to deal with notices of .motion concerning amendments to .rules. i On the suggestion of the Taranaki District Clubs it was decided that the words "District Committee" should mean a committee consisting of tho chairman jxud five members of the committee of die Metropolitan Club to bo elected by the committee of the Metro-

politan Club, and of five delegates to be elected by the Totalisator Clubs in the Metropolitan District. The chairman of the committee of the Metropolitan Club shall be cxofficio chairman of the District Committee; five to form a quorum. The Marlborough Racing Club sought to have the Wellington Racing Club as its "metropolitan club" instead of the Canterbury Jockey Club aa at present. The advisability of making any such alteration as that proposed during th« war was raised, and consideration «>t the motion, moved by Mr. H. D. Vavasour, was deferred until later on in the conference.

On th« motion of the President, con ference decided to append a note as follows to Rule 7, Part 111. of the Rules of Racing-.Clubs which have been deprived of the right to .hold a meeting at which the totalisator; is used in any year during the duration of the war shall not, during such period, be deprived of their right to vote at the election of Teprescn. tatives for the District Club.

Sir George Clifford moved 1 similarly in connection with Rule 15, Part IV., and his motion was again carried. At the request of the ; Hon. the Ministor of Internal Affairs (Hon. G. W. Russell) the President moved, arid it was carried unanimously, mi addition to Rule 6, Part IV. In effect it was that the stewards shaU exclude from all places under their control all persons ana horses whose names appear in the Official Calendar '<Sor in the official calendar of the -New Zealand Trotting Association." The words quoted constitute the a.Rf»rn.tions disked for by t,he Minister. There was a good deal of discussion upon a proposal by Mr. W. V. M. Buckley (Christ'ihurch) in regard to district committees. The words suggested to be added to the rr'e concerned were: "No person who is the paid official of'any club shall be eligible for election as a delegate to the District Committee." Opinion was evenly divided, and the motion was lost by 18 votes to 15. An amendment to Rule 6, Part VI., proposing to abolish the present preponderance of short races was moved by Mr. W. F. M. Buckley (Canterbury Jockey Club). It was as follows:— " The programme of every meeting from Ist September to 6th June inclusive shall include two fiat races per diem of not less than one mile. The programme of every meeting from 7th June to 31st August inclusive shall include at least one maiden or hack steeplechase, and if such, programme includes one or more flat races there shall be one flat race of hot less than one mile and a-quarter." The amendment was lost.

On the motion of the President, it was decided that every club shall, during the month of August in. each year, forward to the secretary of the conference an audited balance-sheet showing the receipts and expenditure of the club during tho previous year. .

(Proceeding.)