THE RACING CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 206, 5 July 1894, Page 8

THE RACING CONFERENCE.

(To the Editor Sporting Review) Sir, —I read in. your last week’s issue the proposals which are to be moved by the representatives of the Metropolitan Club and the country clubs. Hitherto I have not been in sympathy with the country clubs participating in the business of the Conferences, but I must certainly admit that the resolutions which the delegate of the country clubs pro poses to move are far more in the interest of racing, and those connected with it, than those to be moved by the delegates of the A.R.C. Compare, for instance, the proposal-of the Metropolitan Club to reduce the riding fees of jockeys as against the country delegate’s proposals re the establishment, maintenance, and proper publication of the receipts t and expenditure of a Distressed Jockeys’ and Trainers’ Fund. How is the Distressed Jockeys’ Fund administered by the Auckland Metropolitan Club ? Only those closely intimate with the business of. that club are aware further than that the total sum is placed to the club’s general account. And if a jockey requires assistance? having met with an accident or for any other justifiable cause, what difficulty and delay there is in getting even a small measure of help from the Metropolitan Club, who seem to take the view that they are actually making a payment from their own funds, which as things are at present they really do. The Metropolitan Club, too, whilst advocating a reduction in added money, fix the limit of such reduction to a radius of twenty miles from the city. This goes to show there is no real sjmpathy in proposing a reduction, for why should the clubs within a radius of twenty miles from Auckland be compelled to subscribe stakes above which they cannot possibly obtain receipts. Then they do not approve of the reduction where only dne meeting is held. Outside country clubs holding one day’s racing cannot pay a day in stakes, or at least very few of them. You have very ably and favourably criticised the proposals submitted by the delegate of the country clubs, so that I need not allude to the other motions further than 7 to say that, for one, livery heartily concur in the motions proposed by Mr E. W. Alison, and hope the Conference will pass them in toto. It is to be regretted that our Metropolitan Club should allow itself to be completely overshadowed by the country clubs in the proposals to be submitted to the Conference, and that they should find the reduction of the fees of the poor unfortunate jockeys as being the most important of their few proposals.—l am, &c., Metropolitan.