RACING ACCIDENT FUND.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 15874, 13 July 1922, Page 8

RACING ACCIDENT FUND.

UNUSUALLY HEAVY CLAIMS. ' OWNERS' WHO-NEGLECT TO READ RULES. (Special to the Herald.) WELLINGTON, this day. ' "Tho trustees of the accident fund ' have had, to meet, unusually heavy claims ' of late, and, despite the reserve fund, which fortunately had accumulated, it ' may be necessary to restore the fees to ' their original amount,"' stated Sir George ' Clifford in his presidential report to the ' Racing Conference, to-day. ''The decision ' as'Jo this will rest with tho conference. ' lif this connection owners, to secure ' safety, should be careful to pay the accident fee before the horse is weighed 'out. Tho 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 warning ' . against negligence in this respect. Strict . observance of so vital a rule is an obvit ous.necessity. The same caution applies ~ to the: rule requiring at written author- [ ity from the owner for the validity of entries and acceptances by ait agent. If neglect to conform to rules, which , are so essential, brought punishment to , the negligent owner alone, 'we might regard his penalties with , 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 they? If all did SO, tbe omission to notify clubs of in- : terests requiring tho bracketing of , horses on the totalisator would not oci cur. The offending owner would realise ; that he is liable for all direct or indirect < losses, possibly very heavy, occasioned ■ thereby''. j