THE RACING CONFERENCE. WELLINGTON, July 18.

Otago Witness, Issue 2471, 24 July 1901, Page 53

THE RACING CONFERENCE. WELLINGTON, July 18.

The Racing Conference opened to-day. The Chairman, in his report, stated that tho season drawing to a close gave many evidences of the increasing popularity of the sport, and of the determination of the racing authorities to improve it by the suppression of abuses. Their efforts had been genelally conducive to the purity of the turf. The conference had issued a " Stud Book, ' which account sluw«d a debit balance of £20 against stock in hand, valued at £350. With the exception of one club in Auckland, two in Canterbury, and three in Otago, there had been a total abolition of the 5 per cent, deduction from the stakes. The narrow escape of the perpetrators of the Ethel frauds irom criminal puniphment seemed to have ended such attempts in this colony, but a renewal in Australia of similar operations showed how compleiely justified the conference was in instituting the prosecution. He warned horseowners of the danger of negligence in complying with the rules relating to the registration of partnerships. During the year 62 clubs increased their totalisa-tor business and 18 had fallen off. In connection with the distribution of flakes of the clubs mentioned last year,Pahiatua, Stratford, Riverton, Foxton, and pre-eminently Avondale, substantially increased their prizes. Patea ako did so, but is now required, under rule 7, to make further additions. Tup Takapuna and Marton Clubs, as heretofore, were conspicuous for want of liberality.

The report and balance sheet for the conference for the year ended July 8 last, showing a credit balance of £124- 63 lOd, was adopted. Mr Fricdlander gave notice of motion for a committee, consisting of one delegate from each metropolitan club, with the chairman of tha conference as convenor, and a member of committee ex officio, to be set up to consider the disposal of the funds standing to the credit of the trainers and jockeys provident fund. A petition was received from a large numbei of horse trainers asking for better concessions for travelling on the Government lines. The petitioners at>ked that instead of the present rates they should be charged hall fare? each way when travelling to a race meeting. The conference decided to lay the matter before the Minister of Railtvavr..

W. 11. Fergus-, an injured jockey, "applied for compensation. — Mr Pelrie explained that the applicant was injured t\v<~> years ago when the Nelson Club was a metropolitan club. The Greymottth Jockey Club had hern in-able to find out -what had become of the Nelson Club's distressed jockeys' fund. — The mattei was referred to the Nelson Jockey Club* delegate for information.

Consideration of the dates and totalisator permits pubmilted by clubs for meetings during the forthcoming season were submitted to the following committee to report: — Messrs Alison, Friedlaurter, M'Vay, Miller, and Nolan.

The Tararaki Jockey Club's proposal to set up a committee to be appointed for the puiposc of preparing rules of racing was lost.

The proposal of the Taranaki Club thai all races other than handicap* shall be considered weight-for-age events was withdrawn.

The Otago country clubs' proposal to jreduoe the stake limit from £150 to £120 per day was withdrawn.

Tie Otago country clubs' proposed further amendment that clubs should be allowed to give JB3O of their stakes in trotting events was negatived.

The Wellington Racing Club proposed an addition to rule 13. giving stewards the power to review the running of a horse 14 days prior or subsequent to any meeting being held. — The motion was withdrawn. On. behalf of the Taranaki country clubs, Mr Nolan moved that the minimum weight be altered from 6.7 to 7.o.— Mr Bidwell stated that the 7.0 minimum had been tried by the Wairarapa Racing Club, and it w?s found that good horse- were over-weighted. — The amendment was negatived.

The Ron H. M'Lean moved the Dunedin Jockey Club'n motion that the season for welter vi eights in flat races be altered from June 30 to September 1. — Negatived.

The Auckland Racing Club a»ked that the gelding allowance be increased from 31b to 51b. — A committee wa 1 - appointed to deal with the matter.

The Taranaki Jockey Club's mo' ion that no club deduct 5 per cent, from the stakes was objected to by the Hon. (t. AJ'Lean. — The Chairman ex.yret.-ed the opinion that go long as a club gave the amount of the stakes in accordance with the rules, clubs could deduct more than 5 per e<mt. — The ittaondment wa* ne™r.U\ed.

The YVanj>anu: <"'>untry club- moved -that the amount to he won by harks befoie being debarred from competing in feuch races be increased from 150 t<> 250 j-oveicigne. \Vi:-en the rule was pp-v»d the stake* were less than at preaeut. — The piopo u al was negatived. An addition to mle 51, ;lau*e 1. moved by the Chairman, providing tbat the name proposed for any hoi'se must be registered

with Cue secretaiy o{ th^ lachic; club, was carried without dUcucsion. The Wellington Racing Club moved to ri'ld to rule 59 an assumed name bhall be legi^tered for any partnership or association of owners. — The Chairman thought the amendment a desirable one, and it was pgieed to. The I'onference agreed that the chairman's ruling, that all horsei in which one owner was interested should be bracketed on the totalisator, be added to the report of proceedings of the conference and ciiculated among" clubs. The Taranaki Jockey Club nio-\ed to amend rule 62 to read: — "Stewards may pi event a horse from starting if all the fees are not paid."— The Taranaki Juckey Club's amendments to rule 79 and 79a were withdrawn. The Wellington Racing Club's motion to odd to rule 91 the words : "At the time when the horses pass the winning post" was considered unnecessary, and negatived. The Wairarapa country clubs' proposal that horses must be ridden out whether they have a reasonable chance of winning or not was negatived; as also was the motion from the same quarter to strike out clause 3 of rule 142, which debars jockeys being the owner, part owner, or lessee of any racehorse in training. A motion by the Taranaki and Hawke's Bay Clubs 1 to amend rule 142, Clause 3, to strike out the word " owned " was agreed to. The Taranaki Jockey Club's motion to remove the registration of apprentices from the office of the conference to jockey olubs was negatived. A proposed amendment to rule 152, making it compulsory for an uvrner to' be fined for not running a horse in the colours named at "the time of entry was negatived. The Waugauui country clubs moved that the fee of £1 charged for gentlemen riders' certificates be abolished. — The Chairman supported the amendment. — Mr Ormond suggested its postponement, which was agreed upon. Captain Russell moved a? an amendment to rule 156 that no hurdle race shall be iWer a mile and. three-quarters. — Negatived. July 19. Sir J. G. Ward addressed the Racing Conference this morning, congratulating it upon the work done, and stated that it was not intended to introduce any legislation this session affecting totahsator or tote betting. In regard to the question of the voting power of the conference, it was announced that the Taranaki Jockey Club, Greymouth Jockey Club, Taranaki district and Canterbury district (north of Hurunui), and GTeymoiith district clubs, should have two vot«s each. A committee was set up to meet in Christchurch in November and inquire into means of dealing locally with the large and increasing number of trainers' and jockeys' provident funds. Mr Bidwill (Wairarapa country clubs) moved— "That when the Official Calendar is fixed by the conference a'ecale of charges for "advertising should be fixed by arrangement between *he ■ conference and the publishers of 'the Official Calendar." He stated that the Wairarapa country clubs felt that the charges were excessive, and out of proportion to the benefits received. The Chairman stated that the Referee was appointed for one year. • It- -was for the conference to make any • fresh arrangements. — Mr Samuel recognised" the services of the Official Calendar " ' There was throughout the North Island a TStrong feeling that the clubs did not receive a 'benencral return from the Referae. The North" Island clubs were obliged to " advertise 'in their own papers as well.—^The Hon. G. M'Lean said the proposal to issue their own calendar was a good one. He recommended that the chairman interview the proprietors of the JReferee, and endeavour to get €heir charges altered. — This recommendation was adopted, except that the Official Calendar will be issued as usual.

Mr Green (Otago country clubs) moved— "That the question of country delegates' expenses be decided by the conference." — Jt was agreed that metropolitan clubs could collect expenses, and refuse to pass any programme till they are paid. The committee appointed to consider the question of gentlemen riders' fee drew up the following proposal: — "That fee for licenced gentlemen riders be £1 ; that the fees received be voted to a welter flat race for gentlemen riders only at winter meetings of metropolitan clubs." — This vas agreed to. .Mr Baldwin's resolution in favour of instituting cla-js handicaps was withdrawn. The same nentleman's resolution for appointing stipendiary stewards led to a long discussion. Most -of the delegates who. spoke were in favour of the proposal, though some questioned whether suitable men could be found, and others though* * ne expense would be too heavy. It was finally agreed that the committee appointed to consider the distribution of the jockeys' and trainers' fund should go into the proposal with Mr Baldwin.

Mr Elliott was granted 50gs in connection with his claim re preparing the Stud Book. The committee appointed to consider the conditions of the Auok'and Racing Club's Century Stakes reported that, in their opinion, the advertisement in the book programme of the Auckland Racing Club, uuder rule 32a, must be considered void, but that the advertisement in the Official Calendar must be regarded as constituting a contract between the club and owners entering horse--. Under the circumstances, the -committee unanimously consider that the proper allowance to geldings in the Century Stakes of 1902 will be 31b.— The report was adopted In eonuection with pony racing, the Chairman faaid that, from the remarks from Sir Joseph Ward, it was obvious something must be done to meet the difficulty which had arisen. They had permitted trotting at flat race meetings, and must consider the question of pony Taciug at trotting meetings. It was resolved that the conference, to remove the difficulty existing in relation to pony racing in trotting programmes, recommends, the admission of their own motion by metropolitan clubs of all disqualifications which may be incurred in relation thereto, always provided that the races are run under the Rules of Kacing; that not more tlian two races be included in any day's racing, and that programmes be submitted for the approval of metropolitan clubs in the same way that trotting races on racing programmes are subjected to the approval of the trotting authorities. The committee appointed to consider the question of date? and permif-s repoited a« follows: — Thai, taking the official lists supplied, they recommend that the number of permits in the respective metropolitan districts be the same as la&t year. The applications cT the Waikouaiti Ptacinir Club, "Waiapu Racing Club. Waverley W. itotara Kaeing Club, and Winton Raring Club were not granted. The extra permits applied for by the Avondak, IVxton, and Wftirarapa- ltae-

Jn» Club* were noi granted. It permit- >\orft available the committee recommended they lie granted in the ioLlowing order : — ■ Waverley - Waitotara. Cheviot. Avondale, Wairarapa. All applications foi 1 egi^tratiou were granted excepting the Grej town Racing and Trottmg Club. The dates submitted to the couferercs were approved, with the following exceptions:-— The Dunedin Jockey Club were granted November 28 «md 30, or December 26 and 28, for the Spring meeting ; the Palmerston South Racing Club were granted January 1 ; Te Aroha Jockey Club, February 16 and 18 ; Dunedin Jockey Club. May 21 and 24 : Egmont Racing Club, May 7 and 8 ; Napier Park Club, July 2 and 4. The West land and Southland Racing Clubs were asked to select dates, to be appio\ed by the chairman.

On the motion of Mr Samuel, seconded by Mr Fricdlander, Sir Geo. Clifford was reelected chairman for the ensuing year. Several delegates paid high compliments, to the chairman for the admirable manner in which he had filled the po&ition.

This concluded the business of the confererce.