RACING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 8 July 1925, Page 11

RACING.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. CONTROL OF THE SPORT. MANY MATTERS DISCUSSED. CBY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, July 8. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Racing Conference is being held to-day* Sir George Clifford presiding. The annual report was read. Mr A. McKellaiy of Christchurch, was reappointed , auditor. Messrs J. A. C. Fleming, L. Boles, A. Grant and J. Richardson applied tor remission of their various terms of suspension.—lt was decided to, refer the applications to the* various appeal judges interested. An application from the Morrmsville Racing Club, in liquidation, for recommendation of a “tote” permit was received. The club has lost £3OOO, which loss had fallen on 12 guarantors. It was suggested that parts of the profits on race meeting should go to the guarantors. —The Conference declined, howdng that it would create a bad precedent. The O'nmaru Racing Club and tlie W aim ate District Hunt Club were granted permission to increase the number of racing events' on their programmes. The president reported that the president of the Trotting Conference had asked him to, bring forward the matter of increased number of trotting races on racing programmes: There was no recommendation and the matter lapsed. The chief stipendiaty .steward reported that the control of jockeys’ rooms was now very efficient, but that the matter of bird cages was not so good. Some definite rule should be embodied in the rules of racing debarring vicious or unruly horses from entry. Better provision should be made on all courses for attention to injured horses. The scales in use generally were not satisfactory. Clubs were still careless about the compilation of race cards. There was a great improvement in the punctuality of race meetings. Most clubs had done their best to improve the appointments, but in Nome cases tracks had been neglected. The use of standard hurdles for hurdle races should be made compulsory, and felt on hurdles should be absolutely prohibited. During the season the totalisator returns had shown a considerable increase on last season, notwithstanding that the bookmaker was still operating in every town in New Zealand, and if the rumour was anything like correct, his patrons included many owners. The standard of racing remained high. The adoption of standard colours was necessary.

On Mr Hnzlett’s motion, all clubs are to be written to and given a description of standard hurd’es.

ALLOCATION OF “TOTE” PERMITS ALTERATION IN RACING DATES. WELLINGTON, July 8. The Dates Committee, in a report, protested against the action or the Minister for Internal Affairs in not agreeing to the committee’s recommendations for the allocation of twelve extra days “tote” permits, also against the action of the Minister in overriding the recommendation that the two dates vacated by the Lake Country Jockey Ciub be allotted to Riverton, instead of which the Minister leiit one to Riverton and the ether to the Wellington Racing Clubs. After interviewing the Minister, the coriimittee agreed to his allocation on the understanding that in futii're the views of the Racing Conference will be ascertained, and in the event of any ing, the Minister will consult witn the conference for a solution of the diffiulty. . Air Bidweli stated that t\* Minister, with Mr Coates, met the Dates Committee yesterday, when it was acknowledged that the Racing Conference had not the right to allot permits, but hitherto its recommendations were generally approved. Mr Bollard, however, thought He had a mandate to allot the permits, and had done so. The Minister said he wished to assist the conference in every way, and Mr Bidweli said he believed there was no dark cloud ahead. The conference with the Minister had resulted in burying the hatchet. The Racing Conference- Dates Committee reported as follows: Otaki Maori Club, September 19 and 21, instead of 25th and 26th; Nelson J.C., Mar-h 5 and 6;. Wellington R.C. ; April 15 and 17, instead of March 25 and 26; Manawntu R.C., April 21 and 22, instead of March 23 and 24 ; Wellington R.C., July 8 and 10, instead of July 6, 8 and 10. The April dates for Wellington were referred back, otherwise the report was adopted.