SPORTING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 30 July 1924, Page 3

SPORTING.

TRAINERS AND JOCKEYS. TARANAKI LICENSES GRANTED. (BY XEiißGltAl’H —-IMtKSS ASSOCIATION.) CHRISTCHURCH, July 21). The following licenses have been granted by the licensing committee of the New Zealand Racing Conference for the Taranaki district: Trainers.—J. E. Butler. T. Close, E. George, J. P. Johnson, R. Johnson, D. P. Monaghan. \Y. E. Mantle, J. O’Neill. R. H. Peppered, E. \Y. Atkins. W. G. Anstis, \Y. T. Bailey, J. Brown, R. Brough, 0. Cox, J. Fryer, J. George, 0. Jackson, C. Kelly, E. J. vlurtagh, A. C. McDoneli, J.. O. MeIvlcCarten, W. Pine, G. Webby, M. Conway, J. A. Bowden, J. T. Wade. Jockeys.—T. Close, F. Edgecombe, H. Gray, L. E. George, F. R. Johnson, N. F. Johnson, R. T. Eager, H. Gordon, W. E. Pine, L. A. Pine P. Webby, M. J. Conway, E. C. Kendall. TACTFUL SERIOUSLY INJURED. SYDNEY, July 29. While galloping at Rand wick, Tactful snapped a ligament in the fore fetlock, and is not expected to race again. The racehorses ~ Gloaming, Parody, The Hawk, Molyneaux and Egyptian Flower airrived by the Ulimaroa in good condition. THE AUSTRALIAN HURDLES. MELBOURNE, July 29. In the six final acceptors . for the Australian Hurdles there are no New Zealanders. RACING STATISTICS. FOR. SEASON JUST CLOSED. The Gisborne Racing Club’s Steeplechase meeting last week concluded the 1928-24 racing season. The following table shows the principal winning owners, horses and sires for the twelve months. Winning Sires. —Absurd £29,383, Solferiuo £22,360 10s, Eilbroney £21,871, Martian £18,217 10s, Nassau £15.030 10s, Quin Abbey £14,096, Boniform £11,852 10s, Sunny Lake £10,803 10s, Merry Moment £8532 10s, Lueullus £8124 10s, Marble Arch £7558, King Mark £7322, Campfire £7250, Finland £6BIO 10s, Clarenceux £6140 10s, Winkie £6102 10s. Polydamon £6OIO, Maniapoto £5870. Winning Horses. —Ballymenai £5665, Loughrea. £4.015, Motley £3825, Razzle Dazzle £3785, Parody £3225, Te Kara £3500, Hipo £3085, Ro?eday £3045, Muraahi £2995. Highland £2850, Limelight £2705, Glentruin £2695, Sir Rosebery £2680, Bonetter £2635, Surveyor £2500, Sunny Loch £2350, Alfort £2345, Loyal Irish £2300, Killocra £2290, Cold Steel £2280, Tukia £2280, Gloaming £2205, Pilliewinkie £2IBO, Ruanapa £2152 10s, Omahu £2llO, Raldowa, £2065, Boadicea £2077. Winning Owners.—W. R. Kemball £9504 10s. L. C. Hazlett £6728 10s. H. E. A. Kniaht £6005, G. D. Greenwood £5986. R. Hannon £5895. T. H. Lowry £4670, W. McA. Duncan £4620, G. M. Currie £4545, C. G. Dalgety £4503 10s, J. Fraser Smith £4350, A. McDonald £4310, J. Bull £4145. RACING CONTROL. CRITICAL LABOURITES. JOCKEY AND PUBLIC IGNORED. (By Telegraph—Special to Star.) WELLINGTON, July 29. Nearly every Labour member in the House spoke on the introduction of the Gaming Amendment Bill, moved by Mr Bollard, Minister for Internal Affairs, to-day. They were united in a demand for a strict investigation" into racing club’s management. So loquacious were these speakers that for the third time the Government failed to reach the first reading of (the Legislature Amendment Bill. Mr Parry asked if the Bill met certain anomalies existing in the racing world. He did not know if the Government had made provision to meet the points raised last session. The Government should set up a committee'before whom everyone connected with racing, from horse owners down to the man who made bets with bookmakers, could give evidence. There was the question of the constitution of the Racing Conference, about whom certain statements seemed to indicate that there was something wrong so far as representation was concerned. He quoted the chairman of the Avondale Racing Club as having cast a serious reflection upon the point. Mr Parry objected to having to deal with the Bill in the dark. He proceeded to plead the cause of the public who picked their “winners” according to the weights in the race book, which, however, were frequently altered. No doubt these changes were put on the blackboard, but the average person on a racecourse did not know that. He quoted the Onsloiv Stakes at an Auckland meeting, where 93|lb overweight was distributed among 13 out of 24 horses. Ministers might sit and laugh, but unless they were prepared to bring down a clause giving the public some protection in this matter they would find serious opposition to the passing of the Bill. Mr Savage declared-that the Racing Conference was a law unto itself. Everybody associated with racing was body and soul in the hands of the conference. There were local bodies to deal with local matters, but the court of appeal was the conference. which was constituted practically of the same p<m_ple as on the local bodies. In the racing world there was no appeal to the law courts. Jockeys were compelled to get down to impossible weights, the minimum, 6.7, meaning that the boys must be about 6.4. The sizes of fields had been discussed, but it was more a matter of width of track and circumference, and these matters should he investigated. Mr Savage predicted that unless the Minister’s Bill provided for safer conditions for those who rode in

races and more conveniences for the general public he would have difficulty in getting it passed. The great majority of members would support a continuation of racing, but only under decent conditions.

Air Lee suggested that the public should have some control over the management ol racing chibs, which handled so many millions of public money. Members were only elected who suited the policy of the club. An instance of how little a club considered those who supplied the money was to he seen at the Ellerslie course, where the general public was put into an enclosure away down the course, while the privileged few were at the winning post. “The privileged few.” continued Mr Lee. “are guzzling free liquor at the expense of the poor devils away out in the suburbs. I believe that if there is free liquor to throw around it should go to the public, in whose interests this sport K supposed to be run. They are entitled to a share of it.” Mr Langstone was also critical of racing management., asking how much physical development was encouraged by having jockeys riding at 6.7. He advised the Government to investigate racing management deeply, otherwise the Labour Party had some pretty plums to bring out of the box, which would raise, some most contentious matters. “I am satisfied,” added Mr Langstone, “there are a lot of skeletons in the racing cupboard that are putrid. (Laughter.) All the dead flesh has not withered off. Some is stinking in the nostrils of the public, .and unless the Government has an enquiry- it will have a pretty hot time.”

Messrs Sullivan. McKeen and Monteith, from the Labour benches, continued the criticism on similar lines. The only speaker outside Labour ranks was Mr Isitt, who referred to the enormous volume of betting, and reminded the Premier and the leading politicians of their former utterances, showing they were disturbed over the matter. Fie would be surprised, in face of their declarations, if the Government would dare to propose an increase in race permit's. He was not afraid to urge the Government to reduce the number of racing and betting permits in Christchurch so that countrv clubs, which appeared to be panting for permits, would get some in this way. Mr Forhes: How many would you leave ?

Air Isitt: “Just as few as T could get the Government to grant.” He concluded by urging the Government to set up a commission to consider the redistribution of permits, and to cease playing with the question of the unlawful use of the telegrauhic and telephonic facilities for gambling. The member was detailing his views on gambling when he was interrunted bv the dinner adjournment, and thus'the introduction of the Bill was postponed.