TROTTING MATTERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17348, 13 May 1924, Page 7

TROTTING MATTERS.

MEETING OF NEW ZEALAND BOARD. A NEW BRIGHTON FINE. The Board of the New Zealand Trotting Association met this morning; present—Messrs P. Selig (chairman), AY. J. Hopkins, J. J-J. Williams, 0. F. Mark, W. H. Denton, R. W. Short, R. A. Armstrong and J. M. Samson. Dsiqualifications imposed by the Victorian Trotting and Racing Association and the W ost Australian Trotting Association were endorsed. Tho chairman said the association had undertaken in cases of malpractice to reciprocate with the Australian associations. The action of the New Zealand Metropolitan Club in fining G. F. Robinson, the driver of Elite in the Wilkin Handicap, for careless driving, was endorsed . The Waimnte Plains Club reported that an inquiry Had been made into the running of Uncle Bert, but it had been decided after hearing the evidence to take no action. The club’s decision was endorsed. CASE OF J. N. CLARKE. The New Brighton Club wrote with reference to the case of J. N. Clarke, driver of Nelson Fame, who was fined £25 foi* interfering with Pakoti in the Dash Handicap. Tho association had referred the matter back to the club for reconsideration on the ground that the infliction of a fine for alleged, deliberate interference was not sufficient 'punishment. In reply, the club advised that the following finding was arrived at:— “That the primary cause of the boring was due to the horse attempting to save his had leg and that Clarke was guilty of careless driving by the manner in which he _ persisted with the horse and that the association’s attention be drawn to the fact that the word deliberate was not included in the motion.” Jn connection with tho matter, Clarke had applied for a remission of the fine, and stated that the action of his horse in no way caused any difference to the result of the race, and neither his nor his sulky touched Pakoti. He considered the fine was out of all reason and asked the committee to review the case. The committee decided not to accede to the request. After discussion Mr Mark moved that the club be again written to and asked in what way Clarke’s persisting constituted an offence against tho rules. The chairman: It seems to me that wo want to know what is meant by persisting. The motion was carried. ROYAL SHOW. Mr W. Hayward, a member of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, waited on the board in reference to the absence of trotting classes at the Royal Agricultural Show to be held at Palmerston North this vear. He said that not a single class had been provided for trotters and ho thought it would be a great pity to let the occasion pass without .something being done in the matter. It might be possible to wait until tho show was held in Christchurch in 1925 but he did not favour that course. The chairman said it would be a national calamity to allow the first Royal Agricultural Show to be held in New Zealand to take place without something being done to encourage the square-gaited trotter. There were many very fine horses in New Zealand which were able to give good exhibitions on the track. He would not like to lose the pure trotting horses from the programmes now that they had got the utility horse. He moved that the association make a donation of £SO to the society. Clubs could donate cups if they wished to do so. Mr Mark suggested that the Royal Agricultural Society bo written to and asked what it intended to do in regard to the thoroughbred classes, the information to be a guide to the board as to what donation it should make. The board should; make it clear that *t intended to make a donation. His object was to ensure that what tho association did was in keeping with what was done in other classes. The chairman withdrew his motion and Mr Mark’s suggestion was adopted. REGISTRATION OF WELCOME HOME. At the last meeting the registration of the horse Welcome Home was cancelled and it was decided to ask C. Shaw for his explanation why he failed to have it registered back iu his own name after he had given notice that he had sold it to W. P. Capes. In connection with the matter, Shaw wrote stating that Welcome Homo had been his cart horse for a. good of years and had not raced for at least five years, and was at least 10 to 17 years olej. W. P. Capes asked him to loan him tho horse to nominate with on© belongin r to him so that they would not he coupled in a- large field on tho totalisator . AY. P. Capes himself offered to come with Shaw to have the horse transferred back to Shaw. Owing to the time being near Christmas, Shaw neglected to do so and when the trouble started with the Capes Brothers he thought it best for him to make his own explanation of tho matter to the board. The horse had never left his possession. It was decided to refer the matter to the executive. Shaw to he examined in the meantime. A DISQUALIFIED HORSE. J. Carter, Dunedin, owner of the disqualified horse, Shanghai, wrote asking that it be re-instated. The chairman said the horse had been disqualified as it had been sold to a bookmaker. Numerous previous applications had been made for its reinstatement but the board had refused them. Mr Armstrong said his impression was that the last refusal was final. He was opposed to re-opening the case. After, further discussion, it was decided to refuse the application and intimate that it was a final refusal.

OWNER AND TRAINER. F. P. Wilkie. Auckland, wrote complaining of the conduct of ,T. AY*. Kenny, a licensed trainer, now of Auckland, and formerly of Australia. Mr Mark said he had made some inquiries in connection with the matter and had asked both Wilkie and Kenny to call on him. Kenny made a. long statement in which he said that AY ilkie had entered his name as the trainer of King Capitalist whereas he had not trained the horse. Wilkie admitted having done so. It Was decided to leave the matter in the hands of tho Auckland Trotting Club in the meantime. AIETHVEN MEETING. The Metliven Club notified the post-

ponement of its meeting on account of the railway strike, and asked that a new date be fixed early in the new season.

It was decided to ask the club to apply for re-registration, after which a date would he fixed. . DEAD HORSES.

The Winton Trotting Club notified the death of the mare, Annie Bingen, the Timaru Club the death of Bell Direct. Airs A. Neale, Amberley, notified the death of Bille. NOW A CAB HORSE.

At the last meeting it was decided that William Blick, of Invercargill, should b© called before the board to show cause why he should not be dealt with for a breach of the rules regarding the horse Four O’Clock. In his reply to tho board’s summons Blick stated that his expenses to Christchurch would be as much as the horse is worth. He said the horse was every day in a cab and could be seen at any time. If any questions were posted to him he- would be able to answer them to th© utmost satisfaction. It was decided to take no further action in the matter. LICENSES AND REGISTRATIONS. Hie Licensing Committee reported that licenses had been granted during the month as follows, including a license to B. A. Berry to ride aud drive his own horses only at the annual meeting 0 f t h e South YVairarapa Trotting on June 3: Professional licenses to ride and drive ami to train horses—YVilliam Henry Black, William John Doyle, junr., George Neich, Robert Trotter and Fred A. Woodham. Professional licenses to ride and drive only—James YVilliam Jenning, Joseph YVilliam Johnston, and Ernest Scholfield. Professional licenses to train—Henry William Aker and George Webb. Amateur licenses to ride and drive and to train—F. R. .T. Bennett, Bernand P. Brougham, James Cass, John Joseph Cad waller, Arthur M. O’Suilivan and Noal H. Priddle. Amateur licenses to ride and drive onlv Thomas Carroll, Claude John Fairley, Gordon Ivan Griffiths, Arthur Holley. Hie licenses were confirmed. Registration of the following horses •was confirmed: —Ajax (bred and owned by J. Bentley, Lower Hutt); Dillinda (T-. Drumniond, Cave) ; Goldprinc (Charles Templeton, Fortification); Happy Rosa (L. Johns, Fendalton) ; Hal Huon (F. S. YYells, Waipukarau); Jean Beldon (owned by D. Johnstone’ Ngaruawahia); Kenmuir (Peter Shepherd, Chertsey); Kohara (R . M. Morten, Tai Tapu) : Maori Peter (T. E. Prosser, Lecston); Nelson Tasker (Y\ M. Beebe, Christchurch); Peggy Dillon (R. A. -Stanley. Fendalton) ; Res© Lady (Y\ . J. Moir, Christchurch); YVrigley (J. C. Bel!, Waerenga); Westwoed (H. E. Fuller, Blenheim).