NEW ZEALAND TROTTING ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3101, 20 August 1913, Page 51

NEW ZEALAND TROTTING ASSOCIATION.

The Board of Management of the New Zea’and Trotting Association met last Wednesday night; present—Messrs P. Selig (chairman), C. F. Mark, R. 0. Duncan, W. Denton, W. G. Garrard, H. F. Nicoll, C. S. Howell, and A. M. Samuel. The Pacific Coast Trotting Horse Breeders’ Association of America forwarded the programme of a trotting meeting to bo held in connection with the Panama Canal Exposition in 1915, and asked the association to assist in interesting the trotting owners of tho Dominion.—lt was decided to forward copies of the programme to all clubs. A letter was received from the West Australian Trotting Association acknowledging the New Zealand Association’s letter with reference to tho reciprocal arrangements between tho associations, and a letter was also received from tho Victorian Association stating that it had received the New Zealand Association’s letter suspending the reciprocal relations between the two associations.

Tho Chairman suggested that tho association would have to consider carefully its position with reference to refusing nominations of horses that had competed at proprietary meetings in Australia. The attitude of the Now South Wales Government in supporting tho proprietary clubs was astoirshing. Mr Duncan said that there was no doubt that a determined effort was being made to capture tho control of trotting in the interests of the proprietary clubs?, and the Now Zealand Association should stand shoulder to shoulder with the New South Wales Trotting Club and tho West Australian Trotting Association to resist the movement. Mr Garrard said that, if horses which had competed at proprietary meetings in Australia were disqualified, then the association, to bo consistent, would have to disqualify horses that had competed at proprietary meetings in America.

The Chairman remarked that he did not think the association’s rules would permit it to disqualify the horses that had competed at proprietary meetings where there was no reciprocal arrangement. On the Chairman’s suggestion, it was decided to obtain fuller information as to tho position from Mr R. C. Hnngerford, secretary of the New Booth Wales Trotting Club, and then to consider the whole question. Tho removal of certain disqualifications bv the New South Wales Trotting Association was endorsed. A letter was also received from the New South Wales Trotting Club with reference to tho application by R- Post for the re-

moval of the disqualification for life imposed in him in 1902 in connection with the ring-ing-in of Fancy Free.—On the motion of Mr Denton, it. was decided to grant the application, and remove the disqualification. A recommendation was received from the New Zealand Trotting Conference to the effect that no programme should bo passed unless the handicapping was on the time system.—The Chairman said that so long as the rules w r ere obeyed the. association would have to pass a programme. It would have been better to have had the matter settled by a rule if necessary.—Mr Niooll suggested that in face of the conference’s recommendation clubs might not care to ■undertake the responsibility of handicapping by distance in view of the keen competition for permits.—Mr Samuel moved that the recommendation bo referred back to the executive of the conference, with the information that the recommendation was in direct contradiction of the association’s interpretation of “ handicapping,” which specifically' mentioned handicapping by distance.— The motion was carried. Mr Nicoll remarking that the country clubs should be informed that it was possible for them to handicap by distance. The Chairman stated that the dispute between the owner of Soda and the Waikouaiti Racing Club had been amicably settled. i

On the motion of Mr Denton, q committee, cons’sting of Messrs Duncan, Garrard, and Denton, was appointed to make inquiries into the circumstances of the A. D. Hudson case, in which certain allegations were made concerning the officials of the Forbury Park Trotting Club, and to report to the next meeting of the board. A letter was received from the officials denying the allegations.

A letter was received from the Forbury Park Trotting 1 Chib stating that tho association should take up the case with reference to Truganini. It had been suggested that the mare had been “rung in.” A letter had been received from the owner giving information with regard to the breeding of the mare, and Mr Garrard reported to the board that he had made investigations and he was quite certain that the mare was all that was claimed for her by her owner. The suggestion of “ ringing in ’’ was probably due to tho fact that she had performed exceptionally well in her first races when she appeared as a maiden trotter. —It was decided to reply to the club that tho association was satisfied as to the bona fides of the mare.

Tho Tukaha Racing Club wrote, in reply to a communication from the board, stating that the official who had been appointed while appearing on tho unpaid forfeit list had bceri fio appointed under a misapprehension.—The explanation was accepted. It was decided to remove the disqualification of E. Tarrant. On the recommendation of the License Committee, a large number of licenses were granted. Those of T. H. Probyn, Charles Ireland, and H. G. Ireland were granted with cautions, and those of E. Crotty and T. Frost wore granted for three months to November 6. Edward O’Brien’s application was refused. The committee also reported that Jour licensed riders, drivers, and tramers had been called before tho comqiittee and matters in connection with their actions had been inquired into