THE ETHICS OF RACING

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 103, 5 May 1925, Page 10

THE ETHICS OF RACING

AN AUCKLAND CRITICISM.

There have been .obvious signs recently that racing in New Zealand is rapidly deteriorating, and that the public is not getting a run for its money, says the Auckland "Star." There is scarcely a meeting where there, is not some horse or horses that are not run on their merits, either because the dividend is not big enough or there are forthcoming events which will provide better stake money and a much larger return from the totalisator. \ It is easy to prevent a horse from winning without glaringly pulling him up—failure to leave the mark properly, "running him off the course," or getting him so placed in among the other competitors that he cannot get out and.his running is more or less smothered up. These things have been practised, and practised successfully recently, with most disastrous results to a. large section of the public who have supported a particular horse. There are very many people who go to a race meeting purely for a little amusement. They are content to win a little money, and are not downhearted if the reverse is the' case. However, these people are beginning to get the impression that the sport is not a fair, one, in the light of recent happenings where horses have run badly, arid a little later scored comfortably in -a better class field. ...

The position would be 'greatly improved if racing were placed in the hands of, exports paid by the conference. In other words the stipendiary stewards should be increased, and they should take control of race meetings, as far as the running of horses is concerned. -I'ney should have equal powers with those in Australia, where the stipendiary stewards can call the connections of a horse before them and award the punishment if they find the rules have been transgressed. -Recently there were cases m Australia where this was done, and on appeal, the stewards held to their opinion, and the sentences were con- . tinned. They are aloof from any parochial influence, . and that the salutary sentences they handed out Have had a very -beneficial! influence on the Turf in New-.South Wales and Victoria cannot be denied. In' England the running of a horse -is sometimes challenged after ne has won at one meeting'and run nowhere at the next, or vice versa. One seldom hears of that in New Zealand and if the stipendiary stewards were given the full powers they should have ow I ner.s of horses that showed remarkably improved form within a, week or a fortnight would soon have to explain and even if the explanation was satisfactory it would show' the public that their interests were being properly guarded and they were getting a go. At present a horse can run unplaced at one meeting, and, within a comparatively short space of time, he is tfood enough to ■ account for a much stronger field. . Under..the New \ Zealand Rules -of 'Racing a judicial committee is appointed for each meeting, and the stipendiary stewards bring under their notice any matter they think" should, be inquired into, and the committee inflict the punishment. "What: do a large number of these gentlemen who comprise the committee know about;horse racing compared with capable stipendiary' stewards? Veiy little. They, for the most part, follow other occupations than horse racing and cannot be expectea to have tho keen, practised eye of an expert concerning running. . Furthermore, there is just the chance that there may be some personal" friendship between the individual who is before them and themselves, and justice'is liable to be very much tempered with mercy. ihe whole matter is one that calls for immediate attention, and the sooner the control of racing, as far as/the running ot horses is concerned, is handed over to a committee of stipendiary stewards who will mete out the punishment without fear or favour, the sooner will the confidence of the public be restored