RACING CONFERENCE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1794, 27 June 1906, Page 3

RACING CONFERENCE

The notices of motion which will be brought up at the coming Racing Conference do not contain matter for very muob discussion, for with one or two exceptions the subjeots brought forward are not of groat importance. The Taranaki Jockey Club has a motion “ That it is desirable the present arrangements by whioh the Cbristohuroh Weekly Press publishes the official calendar be terminated, and that the official calendar be published by the Conference itself, and that tho president and secretary be authorised to arrange accordingly.” The arguments in favor of this aro so strong that it is difficult to see how anyone haying the best interests at heart of raoing throughout the colony can possibly reject so commonsense a proposal. The Wellington Raoing Club has tabled a motion that part 6, of rule 111, be altered to " No club aball give a less sum in stakes than the net amount derived by snch club from the use of the totnlisator during the previous year.” The principle here is a sound one, but it might prove unduly onerous for some of the smaller and more struggling dubs to carry out. The Auek’and Racing Club has two motions to be brought forward, i The first of these is tbat Rule 2, part 5, be struck out, and tbe following rule be inserted in its place : —“ The Met ropolitan Committee shall have tbc power to appoint an advisory steward for any raoe meeting of a olub in its metropolitan district that it may deem advisable, and tbe said oornmit ea shall, on the application of aoy elub, appoint an advisory steward, whose fee in ei'her oase shall be paid by tbe club to whose race meeting such steward has been appoinied or who has applied for the appointment of the said steward. In either case such advisory steward so appointed shall be entitled to demand an investigation by the stewards of the olub of any matter occurring daring the raco meeting and may sit and vote as a steward at such investigation.” This is certain to be combated by

the representatives of the smaller clubs, but such a rule would do much to prevent certain irregularites which from time to time crop up at country meetings. The clubs outside the metropolitan body would no doubt rather resent what might bo considered too much interference from headquarters, but if this objection can be got over, the move seems a good one. The club also is to move that in rule 7, part vi., the following shall be inserted : “ The Metropolitan Committee shall have the power to refuse to approve of the programme of a meeting of any totalisator club which permits any bookmaker to bet I on' its course.” Should this ' become law it will sound the death knell of the bookmaker, but there is a strong feeling growing tljat the fraternity arc being overharassed as it is, and therefore it is very d übtful indeed if the motion will bo carried.—Sporting lie view.