RACING CONFERENCE

Evening Star, Issue 19918, 14 July 1928, Page 4

RACING CONFERENCE

SIR GEORGE CLIFFORD RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT Tlie ammal conference of the Now Zealand Racing Clubs was continued at Christchurch yesterday, Mr W. E. Rid will presiding. In proposing the re-election of Sir George Clifford as president Mr Campbell said that during his thirty-two years of office he had been an ‘ornament to racing, and had given tone to the sport. Mr Russell seconded the nomination. Ho said he could not find words to express his admiration for Sir George Clifford. He was a man who the con-, ference respected and trusted. There was a thought that they were riding the willing horse a little too hard, but tbo president bad said he was prepared to go on. They were fortunate at having at their head not only a man, but a true sportsman. Sir George Clifford was re-olectcd with acclamation. Mr Bidwill moved the following resolution, to be conveyed to the president:—“lt was with a feeling of deep regret that the representatives of the conference, on arrival here this morning, learned that through illness you would be unable to preside over their deliberations. Your kindly, paternal assistance was sorely missed, and the representatives desire to place on record their appreciation of all vou have done for racing in New Zealand. While regretting your present indisposition, they sincerely hope that at an early date you will be restored to health and able once more to control officially the destinies of the conference.” OTHER OFFICE-BEARERS. Mr Hazlctt nominated Mr 0. S. Watkins as vice-president, and on Mr Bidwill declining to stand he was elected amid applause. The following six- re prose uiatives were appointed to the executive;— Messrs W. T. Hazlctt, J. H. Rcrrctt, H. A. Russell, G. Gould, A. C. Hanlon, and L. W. Nelson. Mr F. Earl. K.C., was also nominated. GENERAL. It was decided that it be a recommendation to the accident fund trustees that the date, from which the owners of yearlings be covered be from January 1. It was resolved that the applications by the following dubs for totalisator licenses and days of racing could nut be granted, as there were no totalisator licenses or days of racing available for allocation:—Stratford R.C., Franklin 11. C., Oliinomurl J.C., Tauraarunui R.C., Waiipu. R.C., Taranaki J.C., Qnrtcrtou 11. C., Mastcrton R. 0., Nelson J.C., Westland R.C., Opunako R.C., Bay of .Plenty J.C., Matamata R.C., Levin R.C., Tologa Bay J.C., Muhia Hunt Club, North Canterbury R.C., Manawatu R.C.

It has been decided that tho certificates of registration of the following clubs bo cancelled, ns they did not appear to have held a race meeting for the last throe seasons:—Muriwai Beach Sports Club, Rangat-aua Maori 11. C., Whatawhata R.,C. ; Lake County J.C., Lumsden Hack R.C., Maniototo R.C., Hari Hari 8.C., Motueka R.C., Okarito R.C., Okuru R.C., Uawa R.C., Eoxtou Sports Association, Taikorca Sports Club (incorporated). Tlie Hawke’s Bay Polo Club was registered under Part 11., rules 3 and 4, of the rules of racing. The application for registration by the Cambridge Racing Club was not granted, as the course the club proposed to race upon was situated within twenty miles of the course of a registered club, and registration was opposed by the Auckland District Committee.

It had been decided that when granting permission to a club (other than a hunt club), under part IV., rule 6, of the rules of racing, to hold its race meeting on the course of another club district committees bo directed only to grant such permission in exceptional circumstances, and with a condition that the club must race on the course nearest to its own course.

it had been resolved that any club applying for a date other than that previously hold by it should state its reasons to any club which held that date in the previous year, and that copies of the correspondence should bo sent to the District Committee and to the secretary of the conference. A.proposal by the Taranaki Club that it should bo given two representatives at tho conference was lost. The following proposal by the Auckland Racing Club was lost:—“That district committees, in settling their recommendations on applications received, and tho Dates Committee, in settling its recommendations to tho conference, shall consider and finally deal with applications of racing clubs without regard to, and before considering, applications from hunt clubs, and the conference, in deciding its allocations, shall adopt the same practice.” On the motion of the Auckland Racing Club an amendment to tho rules was agreed to providing that when tho dates of race meetings in neighbouring districts clash and no mutual agreement can be arrived at, and the conference has to decide, the (dubs shall forward their claims to all (.he district committees having jurisdiction over such chilis as are parties to tho dispute. It was decided, on the motion of tho Hawke's Hay Jockey Club, that two-year-olds might, prior to December 1, run not less than four furlongs. A consequential addition was—“ That no horse other than a two-year-old may run over a distance of less than live furlongs.” A proposal by the Hawke’s Ray District Committee that the Conference Committee should consist of tho president and one porsn elected by each district committee was withdrawn. On the motion of tho Chairman. Rule 3 of Fart IV. of tho Rules of Racing was amended for the purpose of making it clear that the amount of tho tetalisator duty refunded to any chib shall not be reckoned as revenue derived by the club from the uso of tho tetalisator. On the motion of the Auckland Racing Club, it was decided that tho starting time of the first race on eacli day of tho meeting need not be advertised in the official calendar.

On the motion of the Chairman, an amendment was approved to provide that whore a licensed jockey takes the place of an apprentice, he shall be allowed neither whip nor spur. it was decided, in the motion of tho Chairman—“ That whenever a horse is sold subject to the payment of a contingency a ‘ joint interest ’ shall bo constituted bptweea tho seller and purchasm In the event of the purchaser sollii g tlie horse before the, contingency has bfcn fulfilled or lias expired or has been cancelled in writing by the parties thereto, such contingency shall follow the ho and a further joint interest shall bo constituted between all the parties interested in such horse.” A motion by the To Kuiti Racing Club to except hunters’ races _ from consideration in the determination cf hack qualifications was lost. On the motion of the Chairman, it was. decided to add to the horses barred from competing a horse in which any person warned off a racecourse by any racing or trotting club has an interest On the motion of the Auckland Racing Club, the rules were amended to give tho Licensing authority to grant to any person it-might consider a fit and proper person for that purpose a provisional trainer’s license, and such license may be for such period and be subject to such conditions and restrictions as the Licensing Committee, having regard to the circumstances, shall determine. . A proposal by the Waveri&y asasicir

Club to alter the constitution of the district committees to provide that they should comprise one member of the metropolitan club (who should be chairman) and two delegates—one to be elected every second year by each totalisator club in the district —lapsed for want of a seconder. The following new rule introduced by the Chairman to take the place of Rule (i ol Part VTII., was agreed to: — “The following personsandhorses (in addition »o those who may be excluded and removed oy any othei rule) shall bo excluded and; removed from all places under the control of the steward of any club: —(a) All persons and horses whoso names for the time being appear m the list of disqualifications itho official calendar ol the Now Zealand Trotting Conleronco or Association; (b) ail persons who have been declared by any recognised club in any other country thau Aew Zealand or by the stewards of any recognised race meeting held by any such recognised club to have been guilty of any corrupt or fraudulent practice on the turi so long as Ine sentence against my such person remains in lorce; (c) all book- . makers or their agents or clerks; (d) all persons whoso presence may be deemed undesirable; (e) all persons warned off its course by any club or by any trotting club duly registered under the New Zealand Rules of Trotting. The term of apprenticeship for jockeys was extended from three to four years. On tho motion ol lac Lauterbury Jockey Club an amendment was approved making it no longer obligatory for a ridei before going to the post and after the preliminary to return to the front of the stand and remain in the vicinity thereof TOTALISATOR LICENSES AND DATES. It has been resolved that the terms of the agreement made with the Government last year (1927) .in.-regard to future procedure in connection: with totalisator licenses and dates of race meetings upon which such licenses, are to be used by racing, jockey, and hunt clubs bo adopted as follows: 1. (a) All applications for totalisator licenses by any racing, jockey, or bunt clubs in any year shall bo mado to the Minister of Internal Affairs, as provided by statute, (b) All applications for totalisator licenses shall be considered by the New Zealand Racing Conference, which shall forward its recommendations thereon to tho Minister of Internal Affairs, (c) In the event of the Minister of Internal Affairs not agreeing to any particular license aa recommended by tho New Zealand Racing Conference, the president oi tho Dates Committee of tho Now Zealand Racing Conference shall appoint two representatives of flic Dates Committee to confer with tho Minister oi Interna! AHi irs thereon, (d) In tha event of no agreement being arrived at in any pal tieular case by the Minister and' such representatives of the conference, the Minister shall then finally determine the matter.

2. 'As has already been stated, the allotment of dates for race meet lugs is a matter for tho New Zealand Racing Conference, which at all times will give the fullest consideration to any local or other c» plitious placed before it by any dub if began! to its dates. ilr W. X. Russell, in moving tha adoption of the report, said that it would greatly help tho committee ii Easter wcrc'flxedl Tho dispute botween tho Waikato Hunt Club and Waikato Racing Club had been settled by agreement between the clubs. Tha agreement was for last year and this year only. Tho committee felt that ii would be hotter to .grant permanently tho two “floating permits” that had resulted from two clubs giving uf their permits. The Minister of Internal Affairs notified that tho Government could not see its way to making the allocation of the two permits permanent. Mr Russell said that it waa a very great pity that the Government had come to that decision. It meant that the two permits granted to Waverley and Whangarei this year would have to be fought over again next year. Mr G. W. Vcreoo asked that tha dates of the Waikato Racing Club should he altered from October 27 and 29 to November 1 and 3.

Dealing with the question of a club racing away from its own course, the chairman said the continual taking of country meetings to city courses was likely to arouse a strong feeling against racing generally. Mr Lowry asked if it was possibly to prevent the clashing of trotting dates with racing dates. The Secretary said that whenever possible a clash of dates was avoided." Mr W. A. Saunders asked that th< dates of the Cromwell Club should b< altered to November 17 and 19. Tho report was adopted.