EFFECTIVE CONTROL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18757, 13 July 1935, Page 15

EFFECTIVE CONTROL

RACING IN DOMINION IMPROVED STANDARD REPORT TO CONFERENCE (Per Press- Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The racing conference opened to-day, when Mr. J. S. McLeod delivered hi-, presidential address, comprehensively dealing with many questions affecting tho sport. Mr. Ward, the chief racecourse inspector, reported that the steadfast loyalty of his 'three colleagues to him, and their strict attention to the carrying out of fhe. policy of .the executive in every phase of their many responsibilities, enabled hint to report that nothing had arisen to interfere with the effective carrying out of their duties. Consequently, he had no special recommendations to make. He said a number of prohibited persons, especially in the larger centres, continued to loiter around the outside courses while meetings were being held, and undesirables of the guesser and spieler type j,still followed the racing circuits, but r tho certainty of detection should they venture inside, and the consequent possibility of . prosecution lottrespass, was in .most cases an effective deterrent. The ample, provisions -of the regulations for the relief of, persons, excluded from "racecourses was well known and fully availed of. Later in the report (he suggested that the supervision, of persons licensed, ffndci the rules of "racing continued to assist in maintaining" tlib ’standard of good conduct that now generally prevailed. Hq .mentioned , also, that thenwork in,keeping close touch' with owners 'lin'd trainers iii connection, with apprentices w:qs appreciated and welcomed. Their efforts , in- pursuing- inquiries in connection with, the rules of racing and trotting governing corrupt practices invariably had been effective, and con stunt agd; careful attention in that regard was always maintained. Mr. Gower, chairman of the stipem diary : stewards,.i-eported that the management lirffd, 'control of meetings, bail been.-.quite- Satisfactory. - r The most important suggestion he wished to make, and he thought the most needed reform, was in regard to the length of time horses were kept out on the course before the start of a race. A majority of the clubs stipulated that horses must be in the birdcage'2s mimltcs. prior to starting, -which meant that if i-aces wortrun to time .the horses-were out for 20 minutes. He considered that “wrong" horses should not be, kept out for that length of time, . often.: in cold rough weather. Tho public could do its betting ;just as easily in 10 minutes’-as 20. To. .bring a. rfcform about it 'wonld, be neciessaxy for fall clubs to adopt a system; tha t horses’.must ibe'an the birdcage 15 "minutes before theAta'rt. . , He>."thought t'haV it kliqtiid I compulsory for clubs' to " include in pro-j grammes, a hurdle,?acp or. steeplechase, on each day, from April 1 ,to November; 30. Crass-cpUntry riders, especially:,in the South Island, iquiul it very difficult to earn a Jiving, and continued! "highweight; handicaps such us, they had} there, meant that, soon very few hurdle! or steeplechase riders would be qnnli-j tied to ride in them. j He again hrpught.dofward -his suggestion in the. 1933-34 report that the minimum weight in all flat races shouUC be Bst. At. a mirnbcgmf meetings,-fchdj starting barrier worked too slowlyS and it was common to see horses takings! it with them. This was a matter td£ which clubs should give- attention with" the object of procuring the best starting machine possible, lie suggested thaU to save horses having sometimes to return to the birdcage, starters should be Supplied with- a pair of reins, stirrup leathers, girth, surcingle, and a strip of green hide. lie also advocated the totalisator being closed to time as a rule to be strictly adhered, to. The value of racing to New Zealand was shown indirectly in tubitarked degree by tho success of the yearling sales, which were well attended, with good prices and Australian buyers well to the lore. A remit from the executive rommittce was adopted ti> reduce tho qnalification for hacks from winners of a race worth £250 or of j races .worth £SCO/to £2OO and £4OO respectively. j It was decided to define a hack/race as a race in wliich any horse ik debarred from entering by reason pf his winnings, even though the word hack is used in the title of race. j The executive’s remit recommending the reinstatement ■of an Bst. minimum in flat races, othtr than the/principal flat race in the programme 7 each day of any meeting, and the extension of the date of operation, making it June 1 to August 31,. _ was adopted. t Mr,_ A.. N.. Smith (Dunedin) moved for.consideration by the next conference that the minimum be 7st. 71b. during the remaining months of the year. , Approval was given to a Manawatu remit to allow the stewards provide a man on a quiet hack to stand in the first position on the rail, to assist the starter in lining up the horses.