NEW ZEALAND RACING CONFERENCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8060, 12 July 1904, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND RACING CONFERENCE.

'" THE -ANNUAL MEETING. [Per Phbss Association.] WELLINGTON, July 12. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Racing Conference opened to-day. ■ ■ In hiß report the chairman referred to the prosperity of the past season, and stated that the inoroaoed attendance of the public i at race meetings was evidence of greater reliance on the efforts of the managers of clubs to securo honest racing. In connection -with the fund for relieving owners who might become liable under the Employers' Liability and kindred Acts twenty-six applications had been granted, &LU 16b 2d. The fund showed a ' credit balance of J81648 2s Bd. He expressed the thanks of the Conference to Sir William Russell, the Hon J. P. Ormond, Mr H. O. Bell, Mr Homes, Mr Hunter, Mr Logan, Mr ' Reid," Mr Pyno arid Mr Samuel for their services as judges on appeals. He (the . chairman) had drafted a drastic amendment to compel a reduction of the length of the forfeit list. He mentioned the abuse of two-year-olds by early racing as a. subject for profitable consideration by the Conference. On the question of bookmakers the report regrets that some clubs have lioensed bookmakers, the recognition of whom as part of the machinery of racing was detrimental to the public estimation of the sport, and also to the authorities power of'keeping it free from abußes. The standard of honesty and the true sportsmanlike feeling on the turf fall in proportion to the influence exercised by those -who would debase it to a mere gambling machine. The roport expresses the opinion that bookmakers should be debarred from owning' and running horses'. ■ .: . ' '..... '•■ •:• The chairman, in moving the adoption of the balance-sheet, stated that the registration fee payable for horses in training nad not been paid in respect of 152 horses, twenty-four of which were winners. The owners of horses thai finished second to these could- have claimed the stakes. yA long discussion took place pn the question? of putting owners who , ; failed io pay these fees on the forfeit Jiai. | Eventually it 'was decided that the. amount (due Bhould be submitted fo the ' metropolitan t dubs for collection. ' v '