RACING AFFAIRS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 248, 19 October 1937, Page 4

RACING AFFAIRS

AUCKLAND ASSOCIATION Contending that hardship was inflicted on the owner of a horse who was disqualified after winning because his jockey had weighed in correctly but without a breastplate or some other minor equipment, the Auckland branch of tiie Owneis, Trainers and Breeders’ Association is seeking to have the rule amended. The subject was introduced at a meeting of the branch on Thursday eve.img, when Mr. W. G. Grey suggested th <t the National Executive should ask the Racing Conference co act. Dr. E. H. B. Milsom, who presided, thought the New Zealand Association would favourably view the request, which was sound and reasonable. Rule 272 reads: ‘‘Any muzzle, martingale, breastplate, crupper, suspender or clothing of the horse (other than the articles mentioned in Rule 263 (3) c), in which a horse runs, shall be put into the scales and included in the rider’s weight, otherwise the horse shall be disqualified for the race.” Mr. Grey said the penalty of disqualification was too drastic and expressed the opinion that when the correct weignt was pulled the rider failing to bring any of the articles mentioned io the scales aftei the race should be fined. If the rule were amended in those terms it would afford protection to those who supported the horse. Messrs. T. Impey, J. M. Buchanan. S. G. Lindsay, F. J. Cassidy and R. S. Bagby supported the proposal, and it was unanimously decided to forward a remit to be placed before the Racing Conference. It was also decided to ask the national executive to make a plea for the reinstatement of the double totalisator on all courses where it was desired.