TURF GOSSIP.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1205, 5 April 1895, Page 20

TURF GOSSIP.

By Gipsy King. READING THE RULES. In a recent issue, under the heading “ When Doctors Differ, &c.,” I had something to say about the diversity of opinion that appears to exist between the various Metropolitan Clubs when called upon to give their decisions on questions affected by the Rules of Racing. I gave an instance of a difference of opinion between the Wanganui and Hawke’s Bay Metropolitan Clubs in deciding whether a country club could tack on any conditions to a Maiden Plate or a Maiden Race further than what is provided by the rules. Now another difference of opinion would appear to exist between a decision given by the Wellington Metropolitan Club and the solicitor to the Auckland Racing Club. The Lower Valley Jockey Club (Wairarapa), when arranging the conditions of the programme for their race meeting last Boxing Day, inserted their “ definition of a hack,” and this was duly published in the Official Calendar. Subsequently, the Lower Valley Club amended the definition, but failed to advertise the alteration in the Official Calendar. When the Royal Tar-Bouquet protest was submitted by the Lower Valley Club to the Wellington Metropolitan Racing Club, the question as to which horse was entitled to the stakes practically rested on which “definition of a hack” the country club could enforce. The Metropolitan Club decided that as the amended definition had not been advertised in the Official Calendar, the definition first selected would have to stand. This gave the race to Royal Tar. A somewhat similar case occurred in connection with the Papakura Racing Club’s meeting, which was held on March 19th. When this Club advertised their programme in the Official Calendar, it was not stated that " winners would be rehaudicapped,” but subsequently it was advertised in another paper, before the date for nominations, that winners would be rehandicapped. A number of owners having stated that they would not allow their horses to carry the extra weight they were rehandicapped at, the Papakura Club asked the Auckland Raoin^

dliiß tb bfetaiii legal Pjiiiiibii ftorii tHeifc sdlieitor; Mr A: 33,; WHitfcakefc; jixi thb <|ubstidii at issiie. Mr Whiiiakdr’g bjiiiiipil is a 9 foilpws. , .. , ' “ The puestioh sfibiiiittpd for ih;y- Ppiiihm is) as I tmdefstaiid it, as follows: The Papakura Racing Club submitted to the Auckland Racing Club a programme for their approval, which was passed. Subsequent to the approval of the programme by the Metropolitan Club, but previous to receiving entries, the Papakura Racing Club advertised in a newspaper that winners at the Avondale Racing Club Meeting would be rehandicapped. The question is, Can the Club do so? The programme has to be submitted to the Metropolitan Club for their approval-. This does not mean that eveyy rufe. and condition has to be submitted fo, the Metropolitan Club, as. this, ’wfohldi w,ean the insertion of nearly ah, the. rules, and regulations of whiph wp.qld he an absurdity. If, hQ.weyer,. anything was inserted in the prograrnine submitted which was against the Rules ©f Racing, the Metropolitan CStttb would be right in.striking it out, or if the Metropolitan Club discovered that anything contrary to the Rules of Racing was afterwards inserted in the programme or in the conditions, they would be acting rightly in compelling the racing club to alter their programme or conditions to comply with, the Rules of Racing. To rehandicap the horses in the manner proposed is not contrary to the Rules of Racing, and, therefore, the Metropolitan Club have no right to interfere with the Papakura Racing Club for inserting such a condition. The next question is, that if the Papakura Club, fished t<? insert §uch a condition should th,ey have advertised it in the Calendar ?/ I do not think it jjequiaite .to do. sp> Rule W of the of Raping sets out fully all that has tq.fcp. advertised in, the Official Calendar, 4hd this pou.ditiftU clearly does not fall in vdth the matteya requiring to he advertised tn the Official Calendar. To sum the matter up, l am of opinion that the Papakura Club had a right to make the condition before receiving entries; that it was not requisite to advertise the condition in the Official Calendar, and that the Metropolitan Club is not called upon to interfere in thq n&atter in any way at all.” The trouble seems to hjvy. who is to settle these complications? It is just about time the Rules of Racing were thoroughly revised, all ambiguity removed. PerI think all alterations in a programme should appear in the Official Calendar.

“EDUCATING THE HORSE.” I Baeutioued some time ago that Professor liichtwark, the well-known “horse educator,” was engaged on the compilation of a hook, which would be published under the auspices of the Government. I now have to acknowledge the receipt of a complimentary copy of the work, which bears the unassuming title, “ Educating the Horse.” Professor Licbtwark has given us the benefit of his life’s study of the horse, and his approved methods of teaching our equine friends what is required from them. The instructions contained in his book are given in such homely language that anyone possessed of ordinary intelligence should have not the slightest difficulty in handling a horse according to up-to-date methods. The old-fashioned and barbarous custom of “ lunging ” a hc«fsn is, as it should be, just about worked, out, and anyone that resorts to that method of “ taming ” a horse knew as much about a horse 1 as the ho£sL would know about him. So : that those who favour the more system of handling young horses may fully understand Professor Lichtwark’s system of educating the horse, the book has, been profusely illustrated, there being fully 40 pictures (photo process), starting with the horse in its wild state, and showing the process of education right along until the horse is quiet enough for ordinary work. There are also a number of practical hints given in the book which are extremely useful to those who have anything to do with horses. The illustrations, of the revised method of adjusting knots when tethering a horse on fuelling a rope around his neck sibgple way in which to make a get on his feet when he . - LppPTPP. obstinate and has laid down; / of fixing a horse so that he may be 2 , caught, and numerous other hints, ' are invaluable. The leading items in the ; book are—Points for the student j the ' Lichtwark tackle; catching a wild colt; handling the forelegs; handling the hindlegs ; backing a horsey saddling, and educating the senses j teaching to lead, &c.; fixing bit. Ah coifs mouth; educating th* coifs, month j driving; code of commands the horse ; pacing the horse; harnessing a colt; educating the harness horse;, preventing a horse jibbing; catching horses anywhere; preventing a horse, cow or bull jumping over fences ; dosing a horse; the theory of horse educating; tho racehorse; horse management; qualifications of a thorough horseman*. If Professor Rjchtwark’s, methods were more generally adopted, there would be fqwer accidents through, horses kicking ■ ahd bolting vchen used for harness purposes, &c. The price at which the book is obtainable, at all booksellers, should bring it within the reach of all; and it should certainly become a standard work, and find ' a place in every household. BREAKING A LOCK. At, a meeting of the stewards of the Wairarapa Racing Club, held at Grey town North on the 27th ult.,. an exhaustive enquiry was held into the circumstances attending the breaking of the lock on the gate leading into the Moroa training track at Greytown North, which is under the control of the Wairarapa Racing Club. As a result of the enquiry, the following resolution was passed:— “ That John Cooper, for breaking a lock and entering the Moroa course, on the 14fch December, be disqualified for a period of

tiVo yeats ftPrii (either tk&fhing or riding* Disquhlifiehtihii th date from March 27th, 189 S-.’ 3 Th® Wellington Metropolitan Racing Club are to be asked to endorse the decision. The chairman of the- Wairarapa Club, in referring to Cooper’s conduct, said this sort of thing had been going on a long time, and they had at last sheeted home a case. Every effort had been made, and the stewards had gone out of their way to give Cooper a chance to clear himself ore put the matter right in some way. Instead of doing so, he had tried to throw the blame on others and had contradicted hims.elf all the way through. All along his evidence bore reference to Mr Fabian until Mr Fabian came and gave evidence, and then he turned completely round, and said . by “Mr Fabian” he meant Mr Fabians nephew, a lad of 14 years. The chairman’s remarks put the particulars in a nutshell. It appears the lock has been broken on previous occasions, but the Wairarapa Club were unable to trace the offender; however, they publicly announced that if they could obtain a conviction, as it were, against any of the owners, trainers, or jockeys the punishment would be disqualification!; so that fair warning was given to anyone that persisted in destroying- their property. The Wairarapa. Club are to be commended for dealing with this matter in a prompt and business-like manner, and it will be recognised that the Club are acting within their rights by enforcing obedience to the regulations governing the training track at Moroa; but the severity of the punishment passed on Cooper —who has been training horses occasionally in the Wairarapa —does not appear to have met with general approval, although if the disqualification had been for a longer term, Cooper could have no claim on the sympathy of the public, as he was well aware that the stewards intended to deal severely with anyone they found guilty of tampering with the lock. If his trainer’s license had been suspended for, say, six months, the punishment, it is generally thought, ; would have been sufficient, I think the better plan for the stewards to have adopted would have been to proceed against Cooper by a civil action for trespass. If it were a case of fraud, perpetrated on the turf, it would be a different matter; but as it appears to have been only a violation eff the training track regulations, I think Cooper should be treated as a “first offender ” against these regulations, and punishment imposed accordingly. I think the Metropolitan Club should, before finally endorsing the action of the stewards of the Wairarapa Club, ask them to reduce the term of disqualification.