RACING CONFERENCE

Otago Witness, Issue 3566, 18 July 1922, Page 45

RACING CONFERENCE

Wellington, July 13. The Racing Conference opened to-day, Sir George Clifford presiding. PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS. In the course of his presidential address, Sir George Clifford said : —• Since we last met in conference two matters of grave importance have to tn. recorded. The one which should have ranked as our greatest auxiliary in the improvement of the turf was the report of the Gaming Commission of 1921. The second was the imposition of a burden of taxation which threatens the very existence of many of ounracing clubs. The Parliament of the dominion bears the responsibility of the nonacceptance of the report, and is also blameworthy in regard to the extraordinary diversity of taxation which ingenuity has devised for our spoliation. ’I ho latter offence may more easily be pardoned, as its effect is temporary in difficult times, relief is al-l-early promised, and its exaggerated stringency must eventually work its own care. The rejection of the report w’as, however, a calamity, which there seems no prospect of rectifying-. Great expectations were raised by the appointment of so competent a Commission, and they were more than realised when it presented a masterly, wellreasoned, and fearless report.. It winnowed the wheat from the chaff with a. restrained justice, whiefh met the approlration of all unprejudiced opinion. This conference, the legitimate voice of tihe racing community, almost unanimously (31 to 4) expressed its approval, and urged the acceptance by the Legislature, of the Commission’s recommendations. It is not too much to say that the result was resented by all the racing' world, except by the few who .allowed petty interests to outweigh the general good. What we now claim is lha.t renewed consideration be officially given to each item of this masterpiece of suggested reform, and that it be not thus hastily thrust aside in obedience to the energetic clamour of so small a minority of interested opponents. Still more extraordinary than the suppression of the report is tine acquiescence of those clubs which w-ere directly or indirectly charged with irregular conduct. _ No attempt at vindication has been proffered. I have no prejudgment to pronounce, but. I do say that it is the diuty of such clubs to clear themselves from these charges, if false, or wipe away the inherent abuses resulting from them if true. No club should rest silently under serious imputations. There is a written and unwritten law in the realm of sport which cannot be safely disregarded. Passing to the question of taxation, I will confine myself to figures (shillings and pence omitted), which tell their own tale without

comment:- —Totaiisator tax, £150,694; dividend tax. £222,772; fractions, £9939; stakes tax, £34,553; tax on receipts, £4140; amusement. tax, £12,750; land tax, £2332; income tax, £21,149; total £458,334; local rates paid, £5572; grand total, £463,907. This is a load which not only impoverishes clubs directly ; it injures them also by its discouragement of the owners, whose support is essential to their healthy existence. What wo jjetition for is lenience to the w-eak, that they may escape from impending destruction, and an entire removal of all oppressive burdens as soon as the exigencies of the State permit, it. Many of these forms of taxation, which lessen rather than increase revenue, could at once be judiciously abandoned. The year has been made memorable by our first experience of the system of racecourse inspectors. We’ were fortunate in securing as inspectors men excellently adapted to the work of clearing our courses from the scum which discredited them —the type which follows as a hunting ground every crowd whether assembled for business or pleasure or prayer. Their success is already undeniable, and the service to the community as well as to the orderly frequenters of our pastime is well recognised not only by ourselves, but by the authorities whose task is to check crime. The trustees of the accident fund have had to meet unusually heavy claims of late, and, despite 6 the reserve fund, which fortunately had accumulated, it may be necessary to restore the fees to their original amount. The decision as to this will rest with the conference. In this connection owners, to secure safety, should be careful to pay the accident fee before the horse is weighed out. The mere undertaking of an official to debit it to an owner’s account is of no effect, and the disqualification of a recent winner after an appeal to the conference should be a w-arning against negligence in this respect. Strict observance of so vital a rule is an obvious necessity. The same caution applies to the rule requiring a Written authority from the owner for the validity of entries and acceptances by- an agent. If neglect to conform to rules, which are so essential, brought punishment to the negligent owner alone we might regard ins penalties with equanimity; but it is due to the public that owners should be cognisant of all dangers of this kind, involving possible loss to others. In short, every owner and trainer should read the rules carefully once and again. Do thev? If all did so the omission to notify clubs of interests requiring the bracketing of horses on the totaiisator would not occur. The offending owner would realise that he is liable for all direct or indirect losses, possibly very heavy, occasioned thereby. Sir Edwin Mitehelson’s Gaming Act Amendment Bill of last session unfortunately was stranded in the hurried final rush of business after it had passed through the Legislative Council. This misadventure probably cost us three of the benefits it aimed at bestowing. I may refer to them now to keep alive the recognition of their utility, and as a call upon our friends to make every effort to remedy the previous failure. First, in order to combat the evil of street bookmaking we desire permission to the public to transmit money for investment upon the totaiisator to secretaries of racing clubs. Let the investor escape from the limited prices and the barred horses of the vendors of odds, who contribute no revenue to the State or to the sport. Give, the average sportsman all the advantages of the indisputable honesty of the official totaiisator. The law at present debars the bookmaker from following his trade; it is, illogical to leave open to him the practical monopoly of it beyond the precincts of the racecourse. Secondly, we point out, as we have so often done, the absurdity of prohibiting publication of dividends. This statutory follyassists the breaker of the law ; it serves no good purpose in its irritation of law-abiding citizens, and it reaches its climax when newspapers are forbidden to tell us at what price Captain Cuttle won the Epsom Derby. Thirdly, the lost Bill provided for a double totaiisator when clubs desire to instal that special machine. This too, was a step to better protection for the public, who desire the full rate of odds for the moderate investor, with the certainty that the picked investment, will not be refused. May it not be long before these reasonable requests are conceded. GENERAL BUSINESS. A statement showing that the receipts amounted to £4235 and the expenditure to £1433 was adopted. The accident fund report showed tliat the receipts were £23,006, and the expenditure £22,526. —The President said he could not account for the large increase in claims for injuries. Claims were liable to very considerable fluctuations; they might hope that this was one of the exceptional years, and was not likely to occur again.—The report was adopted. It was decided that three delegates from the conference and three from the Trotting Conference confer with representatives of the Sports Protection League in regard to united action concerning increased totaiisator licenses. MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL. The stipendiary stewards’ report stated that the management and control of racing had been well up to the standard, but some clubs still showed laxity, and more care was advocated in the control of jockeys’ rooms, and also weighing rooms. Since the appointment of racecourse inspectors the cleansing of racecourses had undergone a very marked improvement. Racing had maintained a good standard. There had, however, been a shortage of the very valuable class of jumping horses, and in many hack and maiden events the fields still remained too large and unwieldly. It should be possible to classify or divide contestants, thereby reducing the field and minimising the risk now existing. With some exceptions, the conduct of the jockeys had been good. Where vicious or careless riding had been proved (the report proceeded), the stewards in seine cases had taken too lenient a view, and inadequate punishment had been meted out. Increased taxation had affected the “tote” returns, and in the stewards' opinion had driven much money into the hands of tpe bookmakers. They had reason to believe that a "few owners still continued to do business with the bookmakers. All clubs should provide a 10s “tote.” A veryheavy cost was involved in carrying on racing, which threatened tfie very life of the sport, making it almost impossible finally owner to make ends meet. Several owners had discontinued racing during the past season. The stewards regretted to note that many clubs were adopting a system of rehandicapping winners, and were of opinion that field penalties were a much more satisfactory method. Mr L. C. Ilaz.iott. (Dunedin) thought that some explanation should be sought to add to Buoh a bald statement.

The President promised that the matter would receive the attention of the existing stipendiary stewards. The committee was re-elected. APPLICATION FOR LICENSE WITHHELD. The application of the Thames Racing Club for a totaiisator license was withheld. It was decided not to grant applications for additional or new “tote" licenses, or for extra days’ racing, as none were available. Messers W. E. Bidwell and F. Earl were appointed a committee to inquire into matters referred to by tbe Racing Commission in itfi strictures on Takapuna and Avonda.le Clubs. Proposals for preventing accidents to jockeys were adopted. The Auckland Racing (Tub proposed tliat in cases where eight races were on the day's programme the stewards or committee may, after acceptance, reduce or limit the number of starters by any equitable means, provided the means adopted and the procedure to give effect to such reduction or limitation shall have been approved by the president, and advertised as part ol the programme in the offi<-ial calendar. The Hon. W. Downie Stewart udvineA that he was not prepared to amend t.h# existing law .ns proposed, as the Crown Law Office was of opinion that a division of the field was a contravention of section 7 of the Gaming Act. Mr F. Earl (Auckland) supported the motion, and referred to the recent Auckland meeting, in which more than 30 horse* started on a course about a chain wide, which provided reasonable t pace for 25 runners. In such cases there was grave risk of accident. A record field in the dominion occurred at the Pakuranga Hunt Club (neeting on September 17, when 42 horses ran. Big fields were not. liked by the public, and were hated by jockeys. New Zealand was the only country in the world where iaces were not permitted to be run in divisions when the size of the fields created a danger. At Randwick, Ascot, and other Sydney courses division* were allowed. If accidents occurred the public were justified in accusing the Racing Conference of shirking its responsibilities. The President (Sir George Clifford) said he had asked the Minister to introduce legislation, so that if accidents occurred the responsibility would be on the Legislature, not the Racine Conference. The Govern rnent. should pass legislation enabling racing clubs to make experiments during the coming season. The president submitted the following scheme to be placed before tho Minister: —“At no race meeting ehaH th<- totaiisator be opened on more than eight times on one day. nor shall there be more than eight races in any one day » programme, as first advertised, exclusive of matches or private sweepstakes. To such no prize money- shall lie added by the club. Provided, however, that with the object of limiting the number of starters, and thus diminishing the risk of accidents, the stewards may, if the number of horses ae cepting for a race exceeds 20. order such race to be run in two divisions. The first division shall consist of half of the field handicapped at the heavier weights, and the second division of the half handicapped at tho lighter weights. In the case of an odd number of horses accepting the race shall be divided so that the great number of horses shall start in the first division In the case of a weight-for age race or a race for special weights, the divisions shai* be decided by lot. No race shall he divided in which the added money exceeds lOOOsovs. ’ The president’s scheme was adopted. It was decided that the new rule drafted by the president, he incorporated in the rules, and be brought into effeot. if ncoesscry, when authority is obtained. The conference then proceeded to discuss the lengthy series of remits forwarded for consideration. The rule relating to the interpretation of ‘‘district committee” was amended by the addition of the following“ The district committee shall have jurisdiction over all race meetings held in the metropolitan district, and may raise and shall consider and determine all matters in relation to the conduct of racing by the clubs in its metropolitan district which are not otherwise provided for in these rules. All clubs and persons shall be bound by the decision (including any order, direction, or determination) of the district committee, which, however, shall bo subject to appeal.” It was decided that stewards, if compelled on account of inclement weather or any extraordinary circumstances, may put off any race meeting from day to day, provided that races so postponed take place on the first available day. Rule 4 \va* amended accordingly. An addition was made to the rule relating to tho exclusion of persons and horses from racecourses, providing that no refund of admission on payment could be made, and that the club could not be liable to any action for damages in respect of removal It was resolved, on the motion of the President, that when a trotting competition is included in the programme of any meeting at which the totaiisator is used the amount given in stakes shall not exceed the average amounts given on the same day for events on the programme other than tile principal event. Mr W. E. Bidwill moved a Wairarapa remit proposing that the 101 b penalty provision relating to flat race jockeys in steeplechases or hurdle races should be done away with if there were not sufficient jockeys on the course. He declared that jockeys without the weight penalty should be substituted. ’i he motion was carried. In connection with the same rule it was agreed that the penalty for licensed jockeys in races for apprentices should bo 141 b instead of 101 b. 9 he rule w-as further amended by increasing the distance of the race fen- apprentices from six to' not less than seven furlongs, and debarring two-year-old horses from inclusion in races in which apprentices only may ride. In such races no rider is to be allowed whip or spur. A motion by the president, at the request of the Stipendiary Stew arils' Gommittee, was adopted requiring the name proposed for any horse to be registered, prior to its entry for any race, with the secretary of the conference, with particulars as to the name of the breeder if known, tile name of the owner or persons having an interest in the horse, and its age, colour, sex, pedigree, etc. The president also successfully passed a further recommendation from the Stewards’ Gommittee that the old name, as well as the new name of a horse, should be given in every entry in I he Stud Book for 12 months, or until the horse lias run in a race in its new name. Bart xviii, rule 3. relating to the scale of jockeys’ allowances, was amended, pro-

viding an exemption in the case of flat races and welter weights. A Southland Racing Club remit was adopted providing that in all races in which apprentice jockeys are eligible to ride the penalty for a rider of over 30 winners should be 101 b instead of 141 b as hitherto. The Licensing Committee was empowered to suspend, cancel, or withdraw any license of its own motion or upon recommendation of any district committee. An Auckland remit was approved imposing a fine not exceeding £SO upon trainers or jockeys who misconduct themselves in anyway. Alternately they may be suspended for such a period as the racing authority may think fit. Reductions were approved in the fees payable to jockeys under rule 6. excepting where the net amount payable to the win ner is less than £3O. Ihe reduction is to be 20 per cent, in flat race events and 10 per cent in hurdle races and steeplechases. A new rule was passed that when a horse is disqualified for a race owing to the default or misbehaviour of its jockey, the jockey shall forfeit his fee, which may ■be refunded to the owner. The conference approved of the following resolutions of the committee:—"That the president be requested to draw the attention of the Minister of Internal Affairs to the undesirability of altering the proportion of racing and trotting totalisator licenses as at present fixed until such time at least as the whole question of totalisator licenses is again reviewed in its entirety. The committee recommends that in future, when the Dates Committee is appointed bv the conference, the chairman of committees should be appointed for a year by the committee, and that all matters to be dealt with by the Dates Committee shall, as far os possible, be submitted to the chairman of committee at least 14 days before any meeting of the committee.” The Dates Committee elected is as follows:—Messrs W. E. Bidwill, H. Lowry, J. S. M-Leod. P. Miller, the Hon. Sir Edwin Mitchelson, and J. H. Perrett. It was decided that totalisator tickets bear the date of the race instead of the day of the meeting. Part xxix, rules 2.5, and 4, were amended to provide that in the event of there being jnore horses starting in a race than .there are numbers available on the machine, the stewards or committee shall create a sufficient number of "brackets” to overcome the difficulty. A lettei w>as read from the Minister of Internal Affairs regarding an item on the expenditure side of the annual balance sheet of the Avondale Jockey Club: —"Racing Commission, £1602 6s Id.” The conference decided to obtain an explanation from the •ecretary of the Avondale Jockey Club. _ Sir George Clifford was selected as president for the ensuing year.