NEW ZEALAND RACING CONFERENCE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12829, 23 July 1909, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND RACING CONFERENCE.

The President's Address

Official Shortcomings and their Oensequences

(Peir United Presa Association) WELLINGTON, July 22. At the annual conference of N Z Jockey Clubs, which opened here to-day! ,Sir George Clifford, president, in tuo course of his address, said that, as the standard of racing improves- by the introduction of more weight-for-age and, lonir distance races, so will prejuWes^ melt away and a wider recognition^bi'estabhshed of the Conference's efforts>to P romote high-class sport and healthful recreation. The interest added by moderate speculation is of secondary consideration, and the aim has consistently been to djscourage heajy gambling, by advocating the totahsator- under proper restrictions. f*e totalwator automatically prevents the investment of unduly laige sums, and • in -that and many other ways, has assisted the administrators of racing in the maintenance of a true sportsmanlike spirit. He recommended the delegates to consider the question raised by the Wellington Club, whether the Q&nfifflence , would participate -in the legal, .Expenses possibly consequent on the refusal of hcenees to bookmakers, who werekStown to nave phed their callings at unregistered meetings. Complaints had been rife or SAxrtj m receiving nominations and acceptances after the advertised hour of closing, and he reminded officials that such excess of zeal was liable to serious misinterpretation as to their own honour and to awkward consequences if objections should eneu©. Moreover, on official conviying at thy? sttceess of a horse invalidV entered, or accepted fpr, became- a party to a fraud upon the, rightful winner of the stak- Tho«ie secretaries of clubs who failed to forward prescribed particulars of , their meetings for publication in the official Calendar, were not only negligent fv. eir d £*> hxit ' P&ty oi specfal selfishness. The licensing 6i so. many practically unemployed jockeys implies either carelessness on the part of some licensed bodies, or on excessive liberality which is "J* 61 ", kindness to its recipients. More ot the clubs should aim at the' encouragement of wei^htifor-age' races,. where prlcticable. Long distance races- should be 'more favoured than at present. The President strongly condemned the promot;ip? of unlicensed- meetings. This was. a grave evil, and it could not be too widely known that the Conference was not responsible for such , developments.