RACING CONFERENCE HELD AT WELLINGTON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19119, 11 July 1930, Page 9

RACING CONFERENCE HELD AT WELLINGTON.

MR O. S. WATKINS TAKES OFFICE AS PRESIDENT. (Special to the “Star.”) WELLINGTON, July 11. The annual conference of representatives of New Zealand Jockey Clubs was held to-day. Prior to the ordinary meeting, a special meeting was held to fill the office of president, which became vacant by the death of Sir George Clifford. The vice-president (Mr O. S. Watkins) presided. The chairman said that they all missed the genial presence of the late president, and he was sure his family had from conference representatives many kindly thoughts when he went over to the majority. As a formal expression of the conference feeling he moved that the representatives of the New Zealand Racing Conference, who by long association with Sir George Clifford learned to feel for him both respect and affection, express to Lady Clifford their heartfelt sympathy with her and all the members of his family in their recent loss. The motion was carried in silence, members standing. Mr E. A. Campbell (Wanganui) moved the election of Mr O. S. Watkins as president, which was seconded by Mr J. 11. Flerrett (Wanganui district) and carried.

Mr H. O. Nolan „ (Auckland) was elected vice-president on the motion of Mr A. C. Hanlon (Dunedin), seconded by Mr G. Gould (Canterbury). The ordinary meeting of the conference was then held, with a full attendance of delegates, the president, Mr O. S. Watkins, being in the chair. Permission was given to the Birchwood Hunt (one race), the South Canterbury Jockey Club (two each day) and the Greymouth Jockey Club (two each day) to include trotting events on their programmes. The Auckland Racing Club was granted exemption from the rule prescribing for regulation hurdles. It was stated that, owing to the nature of the soil at Ellerslie, it was impossible to properly fix regulation hurdles, but a substitute had been devised which met the situation. The application of Dr C. C. Murphy (Auckland) for remission of the balance of his term of disqualification for five years was refused. Inspector’s Report. The report of the chief racecourse inspector for the past season submitted by the executive committee stated that 206 persons had been warned off, ejected or excluded at the gates, compared with’ ISO in the previous season. The result of the administration of the regulations by the racing and trotting authorities had seen almost complete elimination of undesirables from racecourses. Where good reason was shown in any case provision was made in the regulations for the removal of the personal restriction. This had long been generally known and claims for exemption were considered quarterly by the executive committee. Stewards’ Comments. The executive committee submitted the report of the chairman of the stipendiary stewards for the past season. It stated that the management of race meetings had been very good The rule relating to unruly horses at the starting barrier did not receive from starters the attention it merited. Frequently starts had been delayed unduly and the chances of other competing horses interfered with by the non-compliance of the starters with the rule directing that any horse likely by misbehaviour to prevent a fair start should be placed in the rear of the field. In some instances it had been apparent that the starting barriers had not been as efficient as they should be, and on occasions had been slow to act. With reference to weighing machines of a standard nature it was noted that very little improvement had been effected during the past year. The compilation of race cards still showed laxity at times. Occasionally the names of competitors did not appear in the cards and notices rectifying the error had to be exhibited on the totalisator and elsewhere.

The committee were pleased to state that clubs still continued to improve their courses and appointments, a fact much appreciated by the public. The attendance of the public at the various race meetings had been quite satisfactory, and, despite financial stringency, the totalisator investments had been well maintained. The racing had been of a high standard and class was well represented with the exception of jumping events, where, temporarily at any rate, the competitors appeared to have deteriorated a little. Falls Investigated. Some time back the stipendiary stewards were requested to furnish individual reports as to the cause, in their opinion, of frequent falls in flat races. These reports were in the hands of the executive and probably would engage attention from the conference. The conduct of the majority of trainers and jockeys had been satisfactory, but they regretted to say that there had been sundry cases of bad misconduct. Control of jockeys’ rooms remained lax. In many instances the persons in charge of these rooms appeared to have only the most hazy notions as to their duties and thus many individuals who had no interest in the meeting were allowed to remain in an often too crowded jockeys’ room It was suggested that the clubs should issue more definite instructions as to the necessary duties of the officer in charge. This matter was referred to at greater length in a previous report, and matters improved considerably, but they were now drifting back to the old order. Rules Broken. The conditions imposed by rule 5, part XV, as to the nomination and acceptance for horses were not carried out by some clubs as they should be, and cases had occurred lately where horses had been started and won a stake which should have been ineligible to start, and whose names should have appeared in the forfeit list. New Zealand-bred horses still continued to more than hold their own in Australia and elsewhere, and this fact augured well for the horse-breeding industry in the Dominion. Remits Considered. The delegates then proceeded to the consideration of notices of motion. Hawke's Bay proposed a remit for the appointment of an executive committee consisting of the president, vicepresident, with one member of the Conference Committee, Dates Committee and Licensing Committee, the new committee to meet monthly to carry on the work of the conference. After a brief discussion the remit was withdrawn. The Canterbury proposal to allow a district committee to nominate its member of the Executive Committee, who need not necessarily be a representative on the conference, was lost. The Canterbury proposal to substitute two-thirds for three-fourths as the majority required to pass a special resolution of the conference was lost on

a division. The voting was 34 for and 14 against, but was lost on the threefourths majority rule. Remits by the Auckland district clubs, relegating to district committees authority to allocate totalisator licenses to clubs in their own district, and also power to deal with trainers’ and jockeys’ licenses, were withdrawn. The Executive Committee brought forward a new rule regarding judicial committees. Proposals granting voting power to stipendiary stewards were withdrawn, and the remainder of the remit, altering the constitution of committees from five to three members, was lost. Hawke’s Bay proposed a remit, that the flat race substituted for steeplechase or hurdle race with 1 a minimum weight of not less than nine stone, should be open to any jockeys. The remit was lost. Hawke's Bay proposed an alteration, that any club holding three or more meetings of two days each at one such meeting should provide a race exclusively for apprentice riders. This was carried. Canterbury proposed the removal of power to the Executive Committee to exempt clubs from restrictions in framing programmes. This was lost, A Canterbury proposal, that each programme should provide an average distance of not less than seven furlongs for all flat races, was lost. No Assumed Names. Hawke’s Bay proposed a verbal alteration making it clear that no meeting shall include more than one race of less distance than six furlongs for a horse over two years. This was lost. Canterbury proposed a new rule permitting the use of assumed names by owners. This was lost on a division under the three-fourths majority rule, though 28 voted for and 14 against. Wanganui district clubs proposed that the last date each year for the 9st minimum be August 15, instead of August 31. An amendment to eliminate the 9st minimum altogether was withdrawn, and the motion was carried. Taranaki proposed a new scale of apprentice jockey allowances, increasing them from 51b to 101 b where apprentices have not ridden ten winners, and from 31b to 51b when the)' have ridden ten but not twenty winners. This was lost. A proposal by the executive to exclude high weight handicaps from events in which apprentices can receive riding allowances was carried. A proposal was carried that no trainer should give information respecting a trial or regarding any horse placed under his, or any other trainer’s care, to any person other than the owner or trainer of the horse. Starting Question. Dunedin proposed that a starter may, for the protection of other horses, place hurdles on the outside of the field and may place any unruly horse on the outside of such hurdles, was carried. Taranaki proposed that on the hearing of an appeal by conference judges any club or person interested shall be entitled to be represented by a barrister or solicitor. Mr G. Gould (Canterbury) proposed an amendment that interested persons in an appeal shall be entitled to be represented by an advocate other than barrister or solicitor. This was withdrawn, and the remit was lost.

FIXTURES REVISED BY DATES COMMITTEE.

(Special to the “Star.”) WELLINGTON, July 11. The new season’s list of dates of race meetings submitted for next season’s meetings has been approved by the Dates Committee of the Racing Conference, with the following amendments: — The Taranaki Hunt Club is granted August 30 instead of September 6; the Otago Hunt, September 13 instead of September 6; Geraldine Racing Club, September 25 and 27 instead of 25 and 26; Marlborough Racing Club, February 27 and 28 instead of October 3 and 4; Poverty Bay Turf Club, October 30 and November 1 instead of October 23 and 25; Waikato Racing Club, November 15 and J 7 instead of October 25 and 27; Otaki Maori Racing Club, October 10 and 11 instead of October 11 and December C; Waipapakauri Racing Club, January 24 in stead of January 10; Wanganui Jockey Club, February 19 and 21 instead of February 12 and 14; Dannevirke Rac ing Club, March 11 and 12 instead oi February 25 and 26; Masterton Rac ing Club, April 10 and 11 instead of April 17 and 18; Waikato Racing Club, April 18 and 20 instead of April 24 and 27. The Waikato Hunt Club were granted October 27; Banks Peninsula Racing Club, November 1; Taumaru nui Racing Club, December 5 and 6 Woodville Jockey Club, February 25 and 26; Whangarei Racing Club, April 30 and May 2. The application of the Oamar-i Jockey Club for January 2 and 3 was not granted. Club Must Pay Dues. The report recommended that the dates of the Thames Jockey Club should not be approved unless the club pays its outstanding levies by the end of this month, and if the levies are not paid, that the dates of the two days’ racing of the club be allotted to other clubs; if the levies are paid, the club to be granted January 8 and 10 instead cf January 22 and 24. The application of the Brackenfield Hunt Club for a totalisator license not being received in time could not be considered. As the result of communications with the Minister of Internal Affairs, the two floating one-day totalisator licenses had been permanently allocated to the Whangarei and Taumarunui Clubs. The report was adopted after an amendment to refer the case of the Oamaru Jockey Club back to the Dates Committee was defeated. AN ACCEPTANCE. E’er Press Association. WAIMATE, July 11 Philanderer 9.0 should be added to the acceptances for the Waihao Hack Handicap and the Waimate Hack Handicap.