Dates for Trotting Meetings

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 August 1946, Page 5

Dates for Trotting Meetings

List for New Season’s Racing

West Coast trotting clubs will race on the following dates this season:

Greymouth: October 26, 28; January 3,4; Westland (at Greymouth), April 7. K Reefton: November 30. Westport: December 26, 27. Other dates approved by the dates committee of the New Zealand Trotting Conference are as follows: — N.Z. Metropolitan T.C., August 24, 31.

New Brighten T.C., Sept. 7; Auckland T.C., Sept. 21; Nelson T.C., Sept. 21, 23: New Brighton T.C., Sept. 28. Methven T.C., Oct. 5; Forbury Park T.C., Oct. 12, 19; Wanganui T.C., Oct. 12, 19; Auckland T.C., Oct. 26, 28; Oamaru T. C., Oct 28. Invercargill T.C., Nov. 2; Thames T.C., Nov. 2; N.Z. Metropolitan T.C., Nov. 2,8, 9, 16; Waikato' T.C., Nov. 9; Wellington T.C., Nov. 23 Wairio (non-tote), Dec. 7; New Brighton T.C., Dec. 14 or 21 ( subject to discussion with N.Z.R.C.); Gore T.C., Dec. 26,; Ashburton T.C., Dec. 26; Auckland T.C., Dec. 27. 28, 31; Winton T.C., Dec. 28. Canterbury Park T.C., Jan. 1,2; Waikato T.C., Jan. 4; Timaru T.C., Jan. 11: Cambridge T.C., Jan. 11; Forbury Park T.C., Jan. 18, 25. Marlborough T.C., Feb. 1; Auckland T.C., Feb. 1,8; Canterbury Park T.C., Feb. 8; New Brighton T.C., Feb. 15; Wellington T.C., Feb. 22, Mar. 1.

Invercargill T.C., Mar. 1; Timaru. T C., Mar. 8; Auckland T.C., Mar. 8; Wyndham T.C., Mar.. 15; Cheviot T.C., Mar. 15; Cambridge T.C., Mar. 22; Taranaki T.C., Mar. 29; N.Z. Metropolitan T.C., Mar. 22, 29, Apr. 5

Hawera T.C., Apr. 5,7; Manawatu T.C., Apr. 12, 19; Wellington T.C., Apr. 26, May 3; Forbury Park T.C., Apr. 26. May 3. Waikato T.C., May 3; Oamaru T.C., May 10; Auckland T.C., May 10, 17; Kaikoura T. C., May 17; Canterbury Park T.C., May 24; Ashburton T.C.. May 31, June 2. The Wellington Trotting Club has been requested to select another date in place of September’ 21 and the Thames Trotting Club an alternative to March 29. Ruling on Powers of Starters “I wish to make some observations upon the powers of starters,” said the president (Mr. H. F. Nicoll), at the New Zealand Trotting Conference at Christchurch yesterday. “Recently some starters have claimed a general right to place a horse in any position they think proper, regardless of the order drawn by the Stipendiary Steward, and whether the horse has been misbehaving or not. I understand that the starters adopting this practice claim to have the right to do so under Rule 361. Rule 361 says: ‘The starter may give all such orders and take all such measures as he may think necessary for securing a fair start.’ “It is clear that the orders and measures referred to must be exercised in accord with the Rules of Trotting. Under sub-rule 3 of Rule 364, the starter may place any horse which is misbehaving, and which in his opinion is likely by such misbehaviour to . prevent a fair start, in any position he may think proper, but not so as to alter the handicap of such horse. The starter has no right to alter the position until the horse misbehaves, and it is contrary to the rules to vary the position, merely because the starter believes that the horse may misbehave.” _

A remit which sought to give starters power to alter barrier positions was included in the ordei paper, but it received little support and was rejected. Mr. Shaw’s Resignation.

“We keenly regret the resignation of Mr. J. S. Shaw,” said the president in his report. “This was not due to dissatisfaction with his salary, but because he decided that he would be unable to dissociate himself from his interest in the ownership of horses, which the rules forbid. Mr. Shaw has proved himself an administrator of great competence, and he leaves us with our best wishes for his future success.”

Officers Elected.

The following officers were elected: President, Mr. H. F. Nicoll; vicepresident, Mr. B. S. Irwin; treasurer, Mr. A. L. Matson; executive, Dr. M. G. Pezaro and Mr. T. S. Harrison. A remit proposed by the Auckland Trotting. Club, to provide the president dr executive of the conference with power to disperse with or suspend in whole or part, the operation of, or authorise such dispensation with or suspension of, any of the New Zealand Rules of Trotting, where it was considered such a course was desirable or necessary for the rehabilitation of servicemen, was carried unanimously.

Dr. M. G. Pezaro, who moved the remit, said that his club desired to assist lower grade drivers, absent on service for a considerable period, who might’ at some time have incurred the displeasure of the authorities.

Conference Views on Gaming

Addressing the annual meeting of the New Zealand Owners’, Breeders’ and Trainers, Association, the president of the New Zealand Racing Conference, Mr. H. R. Chalmers, said that when submissions were being made'to the Gaming Commission set up to inquire into all the aspects of racing, the official attitude of the Pracing Conference would be: Opposition to the licensing of bookmakers, support for the present system of control by racing men, and the establishment of a doubles totalisator and facilities for off-the-course betting. • The conference, he said, did not want racing to get into the hands of a Government department.