THE ENGLISH JOCKEY CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 1987, 13 March 1890, Page 29

THE ENGLISH JOCKEY CLUB.

I MR LOWTHER IN REPLY TO LORD DURHAM. Speaking at Newmarket on the occasion of opening the new memorial clock tower, Mr Lowfcher made a speech a few extracts from which may not be without interest even at the antipodes. He said:-— lt perhaps will not be unduly intruding upon you if for a few mo ments I make some remarks with regard to the recent suggestions of Lord Durham. Those suggestions, so far as they affect the Jockey Club itself, I take mainly to be, first of all, that we are not a sufficiently representative body, or a body composed of adequately numerous elements ; also that in the past we have not been sufficiently mindful of the interests of the Turf, and sufficiently alive to the necessity of checkiug its evils and abuses. Now, with regard to the first point. As to our numerical strength I, of course, am not going to say that we happen to have hit upon precisely the exact number of which we ought to be composed. It may be that we might have a few more with advantage or some might say perhaps a few less. But I do say this, that I very much question whetherif a body had to be newly created to fulfil functions identical with those cast upon us, it would be found to be very differently composed from what the Jockey Club is at the present time. It has been said that the Jockey Club is too exclusive. I do not admit that at all. I maintain that there is a certain standard which it is only right should be adhered to with a view to the selection of persons to occupy that position. I say, to begin with, that the great mass of the racing community, as of the general public also, would not approve of our inclading amongst those who are the lawgivers of the Turf any but those who follow the Turf as an amusement and a pastime, and not in any way as a profession or trade —(Cheers.) There is another category from which no doubt numerical accessions could be derived, and in times past undoubtedly recourse was had to that recruiting ground. I refer to young patrons of the Turf, who are apt in many cases to partake of the character of meteors, and at any rate have not shown thac they possess the characteristics whioh lead one to think that they would be eligible additions to the legislative body which guides Turf affairs. —(Cheers.) The Jockey Club has abolished half-mile races, and I think it would be inconsistent if it did not at the same time eliminate what I may call sprinters from its own body. — (Cheers.) The inclusion within the ranks of the Jockey Club of young adherents of the Turf before they had shown that they possess staying capacities— (hear, hear)— would not in my opinion tend to strengthen us. What are called the jeunesse done, a source from which recruits have at times been largely drawn, are, as I think, very properly eschewed at the present time. We wish rather to see whether our young friends remain with ns a few years before we rush forward to ask them to join us, and we consider that the responsiDilities attaching to those who have to frame the laws and regulations which guide the Turf are best assured by at any rate some reasonable period of probation.— (Cheers.) These remarks that have made deal entirely with the question as to how far we have availed ourselves of the elements whuh are to our hand, without any alteration of the structure upon wbich we have been hitherto based. But it has been said that the Jockey Club does not possess a sufficiently representative character, which, I presume, means that we are not elected by any system of popular vote. That, ladies and gentlemen, is a disability under wbich, I venture to think, we will labour for all time— (cheers)— and it is one whioh sits so lightly upon us that I think you may take my word for it it will never be removed. Who, I would like to know, is to be the body or the bodies called into existenco for the purpose of selecting members of the Jockey Club? Is ib to be owners of horses; and if so is it to be based upon the principle of a vote for every horse, or is it to bo based on the principle of one horse one vote?— (Laughter.) And this reminds me that the exclusive representation of the owners of horses would not meet the requirements of a body like the Jockey Club. Undoubtedly owners of horses, and very properly so, exercise a paramount influence in the councils of the Jockey Club at the present time, but they have not an exclusive voice— that is to say, there are amongst the members of the Jockey Club some highly respected and active gentlemen who, for the moment at any rate, have ceased to be very actively engaged in the ownership of horses, and who therefore bring to our counoils that calmness and absence from self-intereßt which, I think, is always useful in any body, and whioh we have found frequently of the greatest utility. It may be contended that provision could be made for the representation of other interests besides those of the owners of horses. I would like to know what those interests would be. Would they include that large and important branch of the sporting world whioh is associated with the element of chance as applied to the horse racing of this country? I suppose it might be said that what is known as the ring should haye some voice in this matter. Then, again, it might be said that the ring itself is subdivided. I suppose those performing the useful function of betting with money which they haye got and are prepared at once to pay, who I think are as a rule most unfairly treated when the subject is mentioned, could not in fairness be excluded from their share ; and I might be told— without wearying you by going through the list— that every person who habitually attends races should bo entitled to have some voice. And more than everything I should be told that the promoters and responi siblo executives of meetings should have a voice. 1 Well, I have referred to various categories the mere mention of which I think has satisfactorily answered the question that has been put. Any workable scheme which could be devised would, I venture to say, be far worse than the status quo. I undertake to say that nobody elected or selected from any such agencies, or any that could be called into existence, would command anything like the public confidence which, without any undue appreciation of ourselvec, I unhesitatingly maintain is possessed by the Jockey Club at the present time.— (Cheers.) Then it haß been said that the Jockey Club has been remiss, and has not displayed sufficient activity in the checking of Turf abuses until its attention was somewhat summarily called to these matters a couple of years ago. That I altogether deny, and I think that Lord Durham must have entirely omitted to recall to his recollection when he spoke the other day that he is not entitled to say that the stewards for the time being of the Jockey Club were aroused out of a deep slumber by the course which he himself took. On the contrary, those who can recall the data to their recollection will bear mo out when I say that at the.very time — unknown, no doubt, to himself — but at the very time that Lord Durham was making that celebrated speech of his two years ago the stewards of the Jockey Club had already entered into the preliminary arrangements for making distinct and separate inquiries, embracing some of the most important elements which were alluded to in Lord Durham's speech, and which subsequently formed the main topics for consideration at the

trial which ensued ; and without adopting for a moment an apologetio tone, I assert that the club was engaged in discharging its duty, and has continued since to do so, and I have no doubfc, whoever may be its representatives in time to come, it will do the same again. — (Cheers.) It undoubtedly is true that the representatives of the Jockey Clvb — the stewards of the Jockey Clvb — had scarcely so free a hand in initiating steps of this kind as a private individual might possess. In fact, we had to be very careful of our ground before we took^ any definite action. We did not enjoy that position of greater freedom and less responsibility which an opulent free-lance, who might be prepared to brave the costs incident to legal proceedings, and who may rest fairly satisfied if, in taking a pot-shot at the ducks he brings a moiety of his game to the ground, can lay down as a rule of conduct for his own guidance. The very fact of possessing large and unquestioned powers is itself a reason for observing a very great caution and deliberation in setting those powers in motion. But the point to which I especially wish to draw attention is that it mußt not go forth that the stewards of the Jockey Club up to the date Lord Durham refers to had discouraged anyone from placing before them any evidence, or, in fact, any observations whioh he thought ought to be submitted to them. On the contrary, without lending our ears to anything that could come under the heading of idle gossip, we were always most anxious to afford every opportunity for all legitimate complaints, and for aDy information to be given which might be of any assistance whatever in the purification of the Turf.— (Cheers.) As I have said before, and I repeat it now, the stewards for the time being of the Jockey Club cannot be expected to play the role of detective officers. That is a role which I for one would certainly never consent to play. We possess judicial as well as executive power, and it would ill behove us to go outside what we may consider the proper line of conduct for those engaged in iudicial inquiries. Therefore we rely upon the independent support of owners of horses and of other members of the racing community in bringing before us such evidence as may enable us to deal with such abuses as may be shown to exist.— (Cheers.) EPSOM DERBY CANDIDATES. The following is a full list of the horses that Kirkham and Narellan have to be prepared to meet in the Derby on the 4th June, with the names and addresses of the trainers, and showing also the races lo3t and won by the horses :— j Eaces. Won. Lost. By W. BAMBRIDGE, Newmarket. Porteus, bo, by Pofcraroh— Effie Deans ... 1 7 By F. BATES, Mlddleham . Cliildebert, eh c, by Charibert— Lulu ... 1 1 By J. CANNON, Newmarket. Red Cherry, be, by Pet- arch— Cherry ... 3 8 By J. CHANDLER, Lambourne. Postman, b c, by Poste Restante— Poor Lasßie... ... ... ... 0 3 By S. DARLING, Beckhamptou. James, oh c, by Thuringian Prince— Lady Crakehill ... ... ... 0 0 By G. DAWSON, Newmarket. Master Astley, b o, by Master Kildare— Violet Molrose ... „. ... 0 0 St fcforf, br c, by St Simon— Foronia ... 0 1 Huuciecroft, br c, by St Simon— Lady Gladys • ... ... ... 0 0 Abiiigdou, b c, by Woulock— Lady Laugdeu ... ... ... ... 0 0 By J. DAWSON, Newmarket. Vanquisher, b c, by Quicklime— Lace ... 0 0 By J. DAWSON, jun. Newmarket. Bolville, b c, by Hampton— Belle of Bury 0 0 By M. DAWSON. Newmarket. Whaup, br c, by Barcaldine— Lucy Glitters ... ... ... ... 1 4 Dort, br c, by Chippendale— Dutch Oven... 0 2 Narellan, eh c. by Chester— Princess Maud 0 0 Kirkham, oh c, by Chester— La Princesse 0 0 By J. ENOCH, Newmarket. Fontainebleau, gr c, by Sfc Simon—Ellangowan ... ... ... 1 8 By 0. W. GOLDING, Newmarket. Janissary, b c, by Isonomy— Janette ... 0 1 IJiviera, bf, by Isonomy— St Marguerite. ..lo 3 By A. HAYHOR, Newmarket. LcNord.chc, by Tristan— La Nooe ...4 2 Vermilion, eh c, by Tristan— Versigny ... 11 Heaume, eh c, by Hermit— Bella ... 4 2 Polonius, eh c by St Blaise— Polenta ... 2 3 By W. I'ANSON, Malton. Fenrother, b o, by Beauclero— Dresden China... "... ... ...0 4 By W. JARVIS, Newmarket. Arcadia, eh f, by Isonomy— Distant Shore 2 2 Bel Demonio, eh c, by Robert the DevilLady Abbess ... ... ... ? 8 By T. JENNINGS, jun, Newmarket. Polybius, eh c, by Poulet— Migration ... 0 0 By 0. W. JOU3IFFE, Lambourne. Surefoot, b o, by Wisdom, dam by Galopin —Miss Foote ... ... ... 3 1 By J. JBWITT, Newmarket. Zisca, eh o, by Zealot— Noyau ... ... 0 1 Killowen, eh c, by Arbitrator— Sibyl ... 3 2 Rathbeal, b c, by Boulevard— Hollythorn 4 3 Heokberry, eh c, by Sterling— Cherry Duchess ... ... ... 0 4 O3trogoth, b c, br Petrarch— Sacrilfgo ... 0 3 Symbol, bf, by Rosicruoian— Nameless ... 0 0 | By R. MA.RSH, Newmarket. Delaval, b c, by Master Kildare— Miss Mlddlowick ... ... ... 0 1 Loup, cb c, by Mask— Fair Agnes ... 3 9 Fear Disgrace, b f, by Petrarch— Lady Portland ... ... ... 2 5 Merry Monk, b c, by ttofiieruoian— Bonnie Katie ... ... ... ... 1 7 Od-ife!l<;w, b c, by Barcaldlue—Geheimuiss ... ... „. ... 1 4 By C. MORTON, Newmarket. Touchwood, br c, by Tcueh<;l— Caroline ... 1 6 By W. OLDIKG, StOckbrWge. GoMc-n Gate, b c, by Bew d'Or-Palisade... 1 4 By Measra OSBOBNES, Middieliam. StrnMipeffer, gr c, by Barcaldine -StrathCiirrun ... — ••• 1 0 By P. PKOK, Newmarket. Dulwich, b o, by Hampton— Mistress of the Robes ... ... ... 0 0 Lightfoot, b f, by Muncastor— Footlight ... 1 2 By J. PORTKR, Kingscloro. Right Away, b c, by Wisdom— Vanish ... 4 2 The Imp, b c, by Robert the Devil— Martyr 0 (5 Sainfoin, br c, by Springfield— Sanda ... 1 0 Orwell, be, by Bend dOr—L izzie Agues ... 1 5 By J. RYAN, Newmarket. Fortitude, eh c, by Sterling-H.ypatia ... 0 1 Alloway, b c, by Springfield— Lady Morgan ... ... ... ... 0 6 Marlagon, b c, by Bend dOr—T iger Lily... 0 3 By W. SANDERSON, Malton. Oxeye, eh c, by Oxlip -Lady Raglan ... 5 5 By R. SHBRWOOD. Nowmarket. Corsair, br c, by Master Kildare— Private Queen... ... ... ...0 0 By A. TAYLOR, Manton. Mark Price, br c, by Energy— Blackbird ... 0 4 Cantbinier, b c, by Petrooel— PalrauU ... 1 (3 Beggar, bfiC, by Macheath— Petition ...0 5 \By T. WADLOW, Stanton. Br c by Mxm'caster — Reveillon ... ... 1 4. By T. WAUGII, Newmarket. Gurtor, b c, by Hampton — Insignia ... 3 8 IN PRIVATE. B cby Rothoihill— Granada ... ... 0 0 Clifton, bK, by Cucumber— Winnlngton ... 0 3 LuLobor, b c, by Vadim— Berezina ... 0 0 Bickltf,'(h Valo, b c, by Neophyte, dam by KlaUer— Capo Diamond ... ... 0 0 IN FIUNCK. Lo MnziU'in, b e, by King Lud— Gem of Horns ... ... ••• ••• ° ° BP'ssUlur, eh c, by Fruutiu— Mailcmotoollo 0 0 Lo Ulorltux, fh c, by Fiontln— The Garry 0 1 IN ITALY. Frank J'a'.ms, br o, by Lanwato—RttttlPcup ... -. - •» 5 4 IN BRAZLL. |?lr I'otttf, be, by Peter-Wiuiired ... 0 6