Sporting Review . . AND . . LICENSED VICTUALLERS9 GAZETTE. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE WEEKLY STANDARD. Thursday, July 23, 1896. TURF GOSSIP. THE STUD BOOK.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 313, 23 July 1896, Page 4

Sporting Review . . AND . . LICENSED VICTUALLERS 9 GAZETTE. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE WEEKLY STANDARD. Thursday, July 23, 1896. TURF GOSSIP. THE STUD BOOK.

The last Racing Conference had under consideration the publication of Volume No. 10 of the New Zealand Stud Book, and a sub - committee was appointed to consider ways and means, and as the committee reported that they could not see their way clear to recommend the publication of this important work, a suggestion was made that the publisher of the Australian Stud Book should be asked to include the New Zealand Stud Book in the Australian edition, but nothing further has taken place. There are two reasons why this plan would not meet with favour. First, the New Zeaand breeders would object to subscribe to the work as being too expensive, and would argue, with some amount of reason, that the Australian portion of the book was of little interest to them. Then, on the other hand, the Australian breeders would raise nearly the same objections, and would ask why the price, to them, had been raised just because the New Zealand breeders, or the Racing Conference. desired that the New Zealand Stud Book should be incorporated with the Australian Book. As most breeders are aware, the Stud Book is a very expensive compilation, although if we

had a New Zealand Turf Council or Congress, with a competent permanent secretary, all information (such as foalings, new mares to the stud, deaths, etc.) could be posted by breeders to this secretary, who would in this way have little difficulty in getting all the necessary information together. But after the lapse of nearly seven years, the publication of the next volume of the Stud Book will be found a very expensive undertaking. However, it appears that the difficulty, though formidable, might be surmounted. We have it on reliable authority that the publisher (Mr A. D. Willis, of Wanganui) of the last volume of the New Zealand Stud Book is agreeable to put £2OO j into the publication of another volume.,' This is a big help. To find the balance of the money to pay for the editorial work, etc , a contribution of £lO (ten pounds) each from the metropolitan clubs, £5 (five pounds) from clubs holding two or more days’ racing, and £2 (two pounds) from every other club registered to use the totalisator, should be asked. This would surely provide ample fundsfor the publication of the work. If the Racing Conference would take this very important matter up, in a business-like spirit, we feel sure that with the-assis-tance of the racing clubs, and Mr Willis’ offer, that the work could bc-put .in hand. The sporting press, we feel sure, wouldrender all the assistance in their power to the editor of the Stud Book, and we would be pleased to receive all information for the Stud Book sent to this office (as a collecting depot for the northern portion of New Zealand), and forward it on to the editor. If the Racing Conference should meet during the sitting of the present Parliament, and we think it should owing to the antagonism shown to the totalisator, which is the breadwinner for racing clubs in New Zealand. It is quite evident that the Racing Conference will have to consult Ministers about the threatened abolition of the totalisator, as individual racing clubs do not appear to realise that there is any danger of the machine going, and are relying on someone talking the Bill out when it comes on for its third reading. We are really anxious that the totalisator should remain the legalised mode of betting for many reasons, but one in particular. It lias occurred to us that the Government might forego the half per cent, of the one and a half per cent, they now receive as totalisalor revenue. This odd half per cent., if paid into the account of, say, the New Zealand Turf Council, would provide funds for carrying on the government of the turf in New Zealand in a very satisfactory manner, and would largely assist to subsidize the publication of the New Zealand Turf Register and New Zealand Stud Book, two volumes that should be pulished annually. The American Stud Book is published by a Colonel Bruce, so that the racing authoritiee have not had to undertake any risks in its publication. However, late files from Yankeeland inform us that there is just now some slight entanglement in connection with the American Stud Book. From the Spirit of the Times we take the following : — At the meeting of the Owners and Breeders’ Association, held during the week, various matters came up for consideration and discussion, including the Stud Book entanglement, the matter being brought before the bodv by Col. S. D. Bruce in some remarks not complimentary to the Eastern Joekey Club. He offered a resolution which, after some discussion, was not adopted, but referred to a committee. Colonel Clav, a man of rare good sense and judgment, made a very pointed little speech, after other speakers had hinted at the assumed arbitrary methods of the Jockey Club. Colonel Clay said —“ 1 am opposed to this association being drawn into the controversy between Colonel Bruce and the Jockey Club. I sympathise with Colonel Bruce, but I am emphatically' opposed to our mixing up in this matter. We have an arbitrary rule among ourselves. The Turf Congress requires horses to be named before they start. The only difference is, the Jockey Club requires animals to be named by March 1, and we when they start. Let me tell you, I have the highest respect for these gentlemen of the Jockey Club. They have done more than any body in the United States—and I say it openly and above board —to establish racing on a solid and healthy basis, and they have succeeded, and I will obey any rules which they may consider it necessary to formulate.” Colonel Clay then moved to lay the resolution on the table, but. after a little discussion, it was agreed to refer it to a committee, who were instructed to try and unravel the tangle, and also to learn on what terms the Stud Book could be purchased. In this connection it may be stated that Colonel Bruce is desirous of disposing of the Stud Book to the breeders, and in that connection he made the following statement : —“ lam seventy-one years old, and would like to retire from active work at the desk. I would also like to see the Stud Book in the hands

of' the breeders of America, who are chiefly benefited and interested in a work which has occupied many years of my life. I would not sell the book to the Jockey Club, but would to the breeders, and at a very reasonable price.” Asked to give an approximate price, Colonel Bruce named the sum of 75,000d015, and said he might even make a reduction on that figure. May be the solution of the tangle can be brought about in that way. Colonel Bruce remarked incidentally, that the Stud Book is now on a good paying basis; and, he further remarked, he was willing to confer with a committee from the Turf Congress and the breeders, bearing on the fees for registration, and they could fix the charges at a figure agreeable to all parties. Incidental to the general discussion, Mr L. P. Tarlton made the remark that it was unfortunate the Jockey Club and the. Turf ! Congress were not more closely allied in the matter of uniformity of rules, registration, and so forth. He hoped they might be brought closer together, for, as it is, there is too much friction, which ought to be averted.