Stable Brackets May Not Be Welcomed

Wanganui Chronicle, 29 June 1948, Page 3

Stable Brackets May Not Be Welcomed

Considerable objection is likely to be forthcoming for at least one of the remits to come before the annual meeting of the New Zealand Racing Conference, to be held on Friday. July 16, the day prior to the concluding day of the Wellington winter meeting. This remit proposes that horses trained bv the same trainer for different owners should be bracketed, also horses trained by different trainers in the same stable. The executive committee is advancing the proposal, but states that it to give effect to a recommendation of the Gaming Commission. Apparently, this is a means of obtaining the feeling of delegates on a proposal which wou’d be a drastic departure from present practice, It. seems very unfair to owners, and the probabi’ity is it will be roundly condemned by delegates and thrown out neck and crop. It should not be assumed that because the executive is bringing it forward it believes in it. One of the interesting remits on this year’s order paper comes from lhe Manawatu Racing Club. In effect the remit proposes to do away with the provision which makes the standing start obligatory and leave the job to the starter. There was a majority in favour of discarding the obligatory stand last year, but the rule cou’d not be altered as a three-fourths majority was needed to make a change in a rule. Now only two-thirds Is necessary, so Manawatu might succeed' at last. Apprentices’ allowances will be considered when remits submitted by the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club and the Wellington District Committee come up. At present an apprentice can claim an if the winner’s prize does npt exceed £4OO. Hawke’s Bay has a remit to make the amount £6OO and the Wellington District Committee proposes £5OO. Increases in fees which the Conference- charges will be proposed. The proposals are to increase from 5s to £1 Is the fee for a certificate of pedigree and identity of a horse about to leave New Zea’and: from 2s 6d to 5s the fee for registering a joint interest: from 5s to 10s the registration of a« horse; and the accident fee from £1 10s to £2'. Some clubs have cavilled at the suggestion that thev should pay the cost of a patrol steward for their meetings. The president will move that everv club shall appoint a patrol steward for its meetings and pay him for his services. If a new rule is carried, peoplewho endeavour to induce apprentices away from their emp’oyers will be liable to substantial penalties The penaltv for using wrong colours is £l. The executive wants this altered to a minimum of £1 and a maximum of £lO. The meeting will be invited to approve in principle the Gaming Commission’s recommendation that the Conference should establish for each metropolitan district a rota of judges, preferably legal practitioners, to act as chairmen nf judicial committees at all race meetings. Another matter of importance which will be voted on is a move to have stakes stabi’ised at the 1946-47 level. This may meet -with considerate objection, as it appears rather earlv for such a hard and fast rule to be laid down.