The Pacing Conference.

Opunake Times, Volume VII, Issue 297, 13 July 1897, Page 3

The Pacing Conference.

Wellington, July 9. At the Racing Conference the question whether or not Metropolitan C ans should continue to have jurisdic ion ov> r olner clubs was involved in a proposal by Mr Alison to the effect that a committee of a Jockey Club should adopt a.progvr-mme if it was suitable to the Club submitting it, The mover contended that so long as the added money was sufficient, the programme ought to be passed, but the proposal met with a volley of dissent, and was lost on the voices. It was resolved that the stewards have power to remove bookmakers or agents from a course. Power was given to stewards to remove from a course persons on the unpaid forfeit It was resolved that winners of hurdles and steeplechase events should not carry penalties in flat races, and that the winners of flat races should not be penalised in jumping events. Resolutions were carried that there shall not be more than eight races on any one day’s programme, and that owners shall be responsible for weights, penalties, drc. a new rule to the effect that winning amounts shall be paid within ten days of meeting, unless a protest or enquiry is pending, was carried. A motion that no clubs within fifty miles of one another shall race on the same day lapsed. The English rule that entries and declaration of forfeits be signed by the owner and agent, and, if telegraphed, confirmed by writing—was adopted. It was resolved that the proposed names of horses be submitted and approved by the Secretary of the Racing Conference. This is done to prevent similarity of names. The fee for changing the name of a horse was fixed at five guineas. No trainer, jockey or bookmaker is to be allowed to register an assumed name. It was resolved that an error of entry may be made on certain conditions and with the permission of the committee of a Jockey Club. A resolution was carried to the effect that any unpaid forfeit must be published within six months, or not be recoverable under the rules. Resolved—“ That if a horse of which the owner or nominator is on the unpaid forfeit list be entered for any race, the owner or nominator shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £50.” It was resolved that all objections to anything taking place in a race must be lodged with the secretary or clerk of the scales within fifteen minutes of the winner passing the post; £2 to be deposited, and in case of appeal, £5, the whole portion of it to be forfeited if the decision is that the protest is frivolous or vexatious. A proposal by Greymouth that when a protest is dismissed the stakes be held for 48 hours, in order to allow of an appeal being made, was dismissedMr Hankins, Palmerston North, moved his resolutions, the first dealing with the re-con-struction of metropolitan districts, and secondly, that metropolitan committees .be composed of delegates from all racing clubs in their various districts, the voting power

to be :—£3oo to £IOOO in the stakes, one t vote ; £IOOO to £2OOO, two votes ; £2OOO to £3OOO, three votes'; £3OOO to £4OOO, four votes. ♦ A rule was inserted making it an offence for refusing information demanded by the Conference or stewards. A proposal to reinstate the clauses dealing with Tattersall’s was rejected, the chairman stating that betting, except by the .totalisator, was not in the spirit of the racing rules. • The jockeys and trainers’ funds are to be earmarked, and specially invested by the Metropolitan Clubs in the name of the trustees. An owner of colors is to have the sole right of such for life. In the case of the final result of a race being a dead heat, and one of the dead heaters is unbacked in the machine, the backers of the other horse will receive the whole dividend. The rule inserted previously, that the chairman and six members of the Conference be an Appeal Committee was rescinded in favor of one to the effect that on the receipt of an appeal the chairman of the Conference should appoint three judges, of which he must be one, to decide such appeal. All appeals to be lodged with the Secretary of the Racing Conference within one month. It was resolved that the new rules shall come into operation on August Ist. A committee was appointed to consider and report as to the advisability of the conference printing and publishing the official calendar, the report to be presented to the next Conference. Sir George Clifford was re-elected chairman of the conference. Totalisator permits were granted the same as last year. It was agreed that the next meeting of the conference be held in Wellington, on a date to be fixed by the chairman. The conference then closed.