N.Z. JOCKEY CLUBS' CONFERENCE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVI, Issue LVI, 23 July 1909, Page 6

N.Z. JOCKEY CLUBS' CONFERENCE.

THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS.

Dprkss association.!

WELLINGTON, July 22.

The annual conference of the New Zealand Jockey Clubs opened here today, Sir Geo. Clifford, President, in the chair. In the course of his address he said that as the standard of racing improves by the introduction of more weight for age and long distance races so will prejudices melt away and a wider recognition be established of the Conference's efforts to promote highclass sport and healthful recreation. The interest added by moderate speculation is a secondary consideration, and the aim has consistently been to discourage heavy gambling by advocating the use of the totalisator under proper restrictions. The totalisator automatically prevents the investment of unduly large sums, and in that, and many other ways, has assisted the administrations of racing in the maintenance of a true and sportsmanlike spirit. He recommended delegates to consider the question raised by the Wellington Club as to whether the Conference would participate in legal expenses possibly consequent on the refusal of licenses to bookmakers known to have plied their callings at unregistered meetings. Complaints had been rife of laxity in receiving nominations and acceptances after the advertised hour of closing. . He reminded officials, that such excess of zeal was liable to serious misinterpretation as to their own honor, and to awkward consequences if objections ensue. Moreover, an official conniving at the success of a horse invalidly entered, or accepted for, became a party to a fraud upon the rightful winner of the stake. Those secretaries of clubs who failed to forward the prescribed particulars of their meetings for publication in the official calendar were not only negligent in their duty, but guilty of special selfishness. The licensing of so many practically unemployed jockeys implies either carelessness on the part of some of the licensed bodies, or an excessive liberality which is no real kindness to V 'ecipients. More of the clubs should i. w at the encouragement of weight for r.£r^ races where practicable. Long distance races should be more favored tban at present. The President strongly condemned the promoting of unlicensed meetings. This was a grave evil, and it could not be too widely known that the Conference was not responsible for its development.