TROTTING CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20925, 15 July 1931, Page 9

TROTTING CONFERENCE.

• TAXATION LIMIT REACHED. FURTHER LOAD IMPOSSIBLE. SYSTEMS OF BETTING. NEW POWERS GIVEN. TO CLUBS. 1 , Tby telegraph.— racing reporter.] 5 WELLINOTON. Tuesday, s The. New Zealand Trotting Conference met ; to-day, the president, Mr. H. P. Nicoll, ; of Ashburton. presiding. i In his address the president referred to . the prevailing economic conditions and said E ho did not propose to erect taxation s as the bogey which had resulted in the , present position of the racing and trotting : clubs. That the heavy taxation imposed had caused a certain amount of stagnation in tho totalisator turnover and a diminution , of stake-moneys offered by the clubs was undoubted, and that many clubs would be i unable to carry any additional taxation was also certain, but the fall of about £2,000,000 . in tho totalisator figures should bo sufficient warning to the powers that bvs -that the limit had been reached in taxation so-far as racing and trotting clubs were concerned. They had always been the willing-.horse and had responded to tho whip and spur, but to-day were jfided and gasping. They had carried their burden manfully, but the last straw had been loaded and further ' punishment would be disastrous. Popularity Undiminished. , In spite of adverse circumstances th'er® was reason to be pleased with tho progress ' made during tho season. The popularity of 1 trotting remained undiminished, due, in no ". small measure, to iho strict control exercised by officials, both paid and honorary. Tho results of importations from abroad and of careful breeding were again shown : in tho notable improvements in epeed, alike in old and young horses. Some phenomenal, times wore recorded, at the New Zea- ' land Metropolitan Club's February meeting. Red Shadow set a new Australian and New Zealand three-year-old 14 miles pacing re>i cord of 3m 16 4-ss, while Harold Logan ran 4m 13 2-5s for two miles, cutting 5 2-3s oil the world's pacing record, and Lindbergh ran second in 4m 18s, also lowering i the world's race record. 'At the Easter meeting at Addington Admiral Bingen reduced the Australian and New Zealand It miles unhoppled trotters' race record , to 3m. 18 3-5s # and Red Shadow established a world's record for three-year-old pacers 'of 4m 275, to be bettered an hour later by Arethusa going 4m 245. They looked forward' to the day when a two-minutes' record would be established in New Zealand and it appeared as if it were only a matter of suitable conditions obtaining'for this to bo achieved. The new rule proposed by the executive, giving stewards or judicial committees power to fine horsemen ux> to £25 for a breach of the rule 3 during a race, without _ hearing evidence other than the explanation of tho horsemen, was an extension of the rule in existence giving stipendiary_ stewards power to fine horsemen, with a limit of £5. Wasting of Time. The reason for bringing this forward was that so much time was often wasted under the present _ procedure of taking all evidence down in writing, and hearing a number of witnesses ■ whose testimony was often irrelevant and of very little value to the stewards. In his opinion, they had been drifting in their inquiries too much in 'the direction of a court of law, and unduly burdening both clubs and horsemen with protracted inquiries, which could be promptly dealt with on the Bpot. to the satisfaction of both stewards and horsemen, who would ! be fully protected by the clause which made it necessary for the judicial committees to be unanimous in their decision before they could act, and also they must have the confirmation of the stipendiary stewards. If this rule were agreed to, it would ease • the duties of the judicial committees, whose work had been growing too onerous, and' i -would save, a sporting tribunal being turned , : j into a Court as it was shaping at present, and at the same time would entail no hardship upon the horsemen, who would still be safeguarded under the rules, if they were not satisfied with a prompt decision. In concluding, Iho president referred to the ban on- the publication of dividends, which he characterised as being the height of absurdity and serving no good purpose whatsoever. A remit by the conference executive giving clubs power to institute straight-out . and, place betting on the totalisator was carried. The president said there had been some misconception about tho remit. If any club desired to bring in tho new system, it would be able to do so. but there i £was nothing compulsory alid it was purely optional. Amount of the Stakes. The rule stipulating that Btakes should, be not less'than tho net amount derived from tho totalisator during the previous year was altered to read not less than 80 per cent. The Auckland Club delegates at first proposed the deletion of the whole rule, but accepted the amendment embodying the stated reduction. The distances of races for two-year-olds were extended from one mile to one mile and half-a-furlong from October 1 to April 1, and from one and a-half miles to one mile five furlongs from April 1 to August 1. , , Tho rule requiring registration of horses not less than four weeks before nomination waa alte.red to not less than two weeks. Regarding horses imported into New Zealand, the rule regarding the nearest club having photographs taken was extended to include the provision that one set of photographs be supplied to tho person making the declaration of identity. A proposal to fix eight or nine o'clock as the uniform time for the closing of nominations and acceptances was defeated. Regarding a chango of drivers or riders, it wa3 decided that the consent of , the stewards to a substitution should be given only if they were satisfied that a good and sufficient reason had been shown. Auckland Remit Rejected. The Westport Club's proposal for a minimum weight of list, for drivers in harness races was defeated. A remit from the Auckland Club proposing that the _ Trotting Association bo abolished and district committees set up instead was rejected. . A series of Auckland remits regarding the procedure at inquiries were withdrawn on the understanding that the executive draws up simpler methods of procedure. Power was given to inflict tho larger fines referred to in tho president's address. The rule stating that no new club shall be registered which is within 15 miles of an existing club was altered to read 40 miles. Regarding the clashing of the I'ranklin Racii.g Club's extra meeting with the To Aroha Trotting Club's annual meeting, the president gave an assurance that everything possible would be done to prevent a similar occurrence in the future. Replying to a suggestion that tho conference levies should be reduced, the president said the executive would give it every consideration. .... The president, Mr. H. F. Nicoll, the vicepresident. Mr. John Rowe. of Auckland, and tho present executive wero re-elected. A CONSISTENT PACER. FIRST FLIGHT'S GOOD FORM. A mare who should rise to a higher plane next season is First Flight, the fine looking daughter of Blue Mountain King and Guiding Star. . Last season as a three-vear-old First' Flight won two races in McKendrick Bros.' colours and was later purchased by Mr. Wilfred Johnstone, and placed under - iho guidance of R. A. McMillan at Taruahere. This season she has raced most consistently and, though unlucky on several occasions, she finished up with three firsts, and four minor placings, worth ,£'sßo to her owner. First Flight's owner was anxious to win a two-miles event with her but in this ho was doomed to disappointment. On three consecutive occasions during the country circuit, Firßt Flight acted as runner-up ill cup contests, being beaten by Gold Treasure, Nolla Dillon and Grand Canyon at Cambridge, Te Aroha and Hamilton respectively. She also ran a creditable race at Epsom in tho Adams Memorial Cup and had she been fortunate enough to strike a good track would have gone very close to winning. Next season First Flight will be five-years-old and she %vill then be at an age when she should display improved stamina. There .is no disputing her brilliancy and she is certainly bred well enough to be a genuine stayer. First Flight's prospects for tho new season appear extremely bright. RACING FIXTURES. July 15, I&—Wellington Racing Club. July 22,'23—Manawatu Racing Club. July 23, 25—Gisborne Racing Club. July 25—South Canterbury Hunt Club. July 30—Gisborne Racing Club.