RACING CLUBS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3201, 21 July 1915, Page 57

RACING CLUBS.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. WELLINGTON, July 15. The Racing Conference was opened to* day, under the presidency of S;r Gcorgo Clifford. The following is a summary of the president’s report; The vitality of racing, with tha hold ■which it has acquired as a health-giving’ recreation, has never been more strikingly manifested than during the turbulent and anxious times of tne past 12 montns. The sum paid in cash by clubs to the various war funds is close on, if it does not exceed. £15,000. Such voluntary assistance afforded by clubs best able to bear the burden i» preferable to forced taxation, which may cripple struggling institutions. We should bear in mind that racing contributes to the Consolidated Fund over £IOO,OOO in direct taxation levied without cost. The system of stipendiary stewards has well justified its establishment, and wo owe oar thanks to the gentlemen who now occupy these positions for the zeal and tact with which they have fulfilled their duties. In many respects they have uuostentatiously effected improvements in the conduct of the sport, and their quiet advice has often proved valuable. Some survival of past evils are, however, beyond their reach. The proposition to appoint racecourse detectives demands careful attention. It, has two advantages:—First, that it will cost logo than the present hand-to-mouth arrangements; and. secondly, that it will convince the sceptical that we are in earnest. 1 he presence of a crowd, whether for prayer or pleasure, will always of itself attract tho army of outlaws, and our duty is to disarm that special species of outlaw invading the'racecourse crowd. Tho strict registration of partnerships is one of the most important reforms duo to the action of this conference. The serious risks and penalties of non-observance appear, sometimes, to be accidentally overlooked, and it may not be out of place to suggest to some owners of racehorses that they should make a practice of reading the Rules of Racing. Noninsistance of payment of entrance «nc acceptance fees at duo dates appears to nave a delusive attraction for many oiubs. Efforts to abolish this credit system have failed, but at least clubs should reciprocally assist each other in the collection Oi these courted arrears. ~ _ Tho Stipendiary Stewards Committee reported that there had been a consiaerablo volume of hookmaking during the latter part of this season, and it strongly urged the conference to meet tho Minister ox Justice and devise some more effectual administration of the law in the curection of suppressing this illegal system ot gambling. . , , ~ , . The committee appointed to cons mer dates of race meetings approved of tho dates, subject to the following except lota and amendments :—Tho Horowhonua Racing Club to be granted September 30; the Kurow Jockey Club to be given tne option of racing on September 30 or October 14 on the understanding that this will not prejudice its application to race on tha first Thursday in October for tho future; the Waipa Racing Club to bo granted December 4 in lieu of December 1; the Marlborough Racing Clubs objection to tho amended application of the Ashhmst--; ohangina Racing Club for November 17 to be upheld, and the Ashhurst Cluo to be allocated November 24; the Mauawatu Racing Club to be asked to select dates !or its December meeting so that tho thud de»y bo not later than December 29; tha Gisborne Racing Chib to be granted February 3 and 5 in lieu of February 10 and 12; the South Canterbury Jockey Club in terms of its letter, to be granted March uS and 25, in lien of March 30 and Aprn 1. and that the Southland Racing Club be granted April 12 and 13; likewise, on the understanding contained in the letter’ from tho South Canterbury Jockey Club, tne Manawatu Racing Club to be granted April 12 and 13: the Gisborne Racing Club to be granted Juno 15 and 17, and the rlawke s Bay Jockey Club to be granted June 30 and July 1, in lieu of June 16 and 17, as both clubs have mutually agreed to dates; the South Canterbury Hunt Club to bo granted July 22. A letter from the Wanganui Jockey Club, objecting to the Otaki Club’s September dates. could not bo considered, as it. was not lodged within 14 days of the meeting of the Dales Committee. An appeal from the Southland Racing Club against the North jOtago Club’s January dates was referred by tho conference to the committee, with powcf to act. The applications of the TaratahiCarterton and Te Kuiti Racing Clubs for extra days of racing could not be granted as there were no days of racing available. With reference to the application of tha Waikanao Hunt Club for registration, tho committee recommended: —“ That provided

affiliation is granted tho W-aikana a Hunt Club by the New Zealand Hunts Association registration be granted under the Rules of Racing.” It was recommended that tho certificates of registration of certain clubs be cancelled, there being no record of them having held race meetings during the past three years and in some instances on account of amalgamation in i other clubs. Tho following clubs wore included; —Taranaki district Aianaia liacw Racing Club (disbanded), Patca Racing Club, Waitara Racing Club. Wanganui district—Karioi Jockey Club, Ngawaka Farmers Racing Club, Warren gate Racing Club (defunct). Wellington district—Lower Valiev Jockev Club, Waikanac Hack Rac-ing-Club (now formed into the Waikanae Hunt). Shannon Hack Racing Club. Ine report, with amendments, was adopted, and the Dates Committee was jrc-appointod as follows: —Messrs E W. Alison. W E. Bidwell, 11. Friedlandcr, R. Goodbohere, G. Hunter, AI R., and P. Miller. The statement cf accounts and the balance sheet of the accident fund were adopted without discussion. . , . . , ■ , The accounts of tho trainers and jockeys provident funds were submitted, showing a. total sum in hand of £7497 16s 3d, distributed amongst the various metropolitan A further statement showed the subscriptions from racing clubs for the promotion of tho sport of hunting (1914-15_ season). The totals wove as follow Special prizes at agricultural shows, £579 7s; grants to hunt clubs. £lOl6 2s; hunters’ races (added money), £3544 17s; free use of courses, £165. . z , .. Mr A. A. APKollar was re-appo:nted audiTho report of the Stipendiary Stewards’ Committee referred to 'further improvements in the control and management of c© meetings. Alanv chibs did not realise '♦ho importance of tho employment of efficient racecourse detectives, but 1 1 was trusted that this would be remedied in the future. Many valuable additions had been made to racecourse appointments, and others were in progress, biit’ several clubs were wisely refraining from undertaking expensive works under the existing unfavourable conditions. On tho whole, racing had been uniformly good during the season, and fairly free from malpractices. There had been a marked improvement in regard to interference in running. The committee- reported against tho re-handicapping of winners, and stated that the conditions in all eases should provide for Many dubs were ill-advised in issuing weights too early, providing an incentive to double betting, and exposing form before tbs races were run. Referring -to startmg. many uneducated and vicious horses should ho debarred from entrv until such time as they proved manageable at the starting gate. In reference to bookmaking, the comirdtttee reported: —“In tho opinion of the stipendiary stewards, there has been a considerable volume of bookmaking during the latter part of tlvs season, and we desire strongly to urge that tho conference meet tho Alinistcr of Justice forthwith, and devise some more effectual administration of the law in the direction of suppress’ng this illegal system of gambling. The facilities open to bookmakers through tho misuse of the Post and Telegraph Department in respect of letter boxes and telephone connections to bookmakers’ residences are little short of a scandal.” The report was received as a whole, and without comment. Tho committee was re-appointed- ae follows:—Sir George Clifford. Hon. W. Harries, M.P.. Messrs AAR E. R.idwill, H. Friedlander, E. R. Guinness. P. Miller, and R. IT. Nolan. To settle tho point as to who was tho breeder of a horse, the following amendment was agreed to: —Page 5. part 1. rule 1, interpretation, add—“breeder” means the owner of a mare at tno time of foaling. The follow ng words wore added to the Interpretation of “maiden”—“maiden rider” means a person who has never in any country ridden a winning horse in any advertised race other than point-to-point steeplechases or races at hunt meetings at which no tot-alk-aHr : s used. A new de c nit : "n of “raemg year” was as follows:-—“Year” moans rac’ng which ia the per : od from August 1 to July 31 in the following y~ar. inclusive. The following amendments to the rules were moved:—By tho president: To add to Part IV, Rule 10 (providing for the examination of any b ors e at the direction of the stewards) —“The stewards shall not be liable for any damages consequent upon any detention or other cxcice of the powers conferred by this tule,”—Carried. By the president (on the recommendation of the appeal judges): To add the following to Part V, Rule I—-“ Where1 —-“Where the derision of any judicial committee, or any committee E importing to act os a judicial committee, i invalid or void, on the ground that such committee’ was not duly appointed or upon some ground affecting the election or appointment, of its members, or any of them, then, and in such case, the District Committee shall have power, subject to appeal In manner provided by the rules, either (a) itself to hear and determine the objection, question, or dispute involved in the decision ; or (b) to refer back such objection, question, or dispute to a judicial committee, to bo thereafter elected in the manner provided by tho rules, to determine the same or any other dispute so referred to them.”—Carried. By the president (at the request of the stipendiary stewards): Part X, now Rule 4 —“ No hand’eap for three-year-olds and upwards shall bo run over a distance of less than five furlongs.”—Carried. Dunedin Jockey Club; In Part X, Rule I—To increase from 6.7 to 7.0 the minimum weight to bo carried by any horse in any handicap flat race. —Lost. The president moved to amend Part A 7 JL Rule 3,. so that jockeys could bo paid their fees at the conclusion of their attendance at a race meeting Tistead of having to wait until the conclusion of tho meeting itself.— Oar reel The president moved to amend Part XXII, Rule 16, in order to vest in tho president tho power to disqualify or suspend any employer or apprentice accepting payment of ruling fees otherwise than in tile manner provided. The Wanganui D’strict Committee moved to amend Part XXII. Rule 16, to provide fqr the pavment of the proper proportions of apprentices’ riding fees by the secretary of tho conference after the payment of all fines incurred by the apprentice.—Carried, HON, AIR ORMOND RESIGNS. WELLINGTON, July 16 % At the Racing Conference last night the Hois, J D. Ormond, one of the Hawke’s Bay representatives, as the result of tho

attitude of a number of members on the right of appeal of jockeys, stated that he would resign, and walked out of the room. The lion. O. Samuel had moved to delete from the rules the items “a crosu or jostle” and “an obvious pull” in the schedule of matters of objection on which tho decision of the stewards is conclusive. This was rejected, whereupon Mr Ormond acted as above. Subsequently the conference carried a motion asking Air Ormond to reconsider his action. NEW STIPENDIARY STEWARD. CHRISTCHURCH. July 19. Air G. E. Curry has boon appointed by the Stipendiary Stewards’ Committee of tho New Zealand Racing Conference as stipendiary steward in place of Mr R. O. Duncan, who has resigned. Mr Curry has been acting for some considerable time as deputy stioendiarv steward.