THE CLUBMAN.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1244, 19 February 1914, Page 10

THE CLUBMAN.

The Garden Party at Ellerslie racecourse, for which two thousand invitations were issued by the president and committee of the Auckland Racing Club, duly came off on Saturday, but suffered to some extent through the afternoon proving showery, though the showers were very light. Notwithstanding the long spell of ury weather everything looked beautifully green within the enclosures and on the course itself, having been kept so through the copious water supply for which the Club pays an annual contribution to the Onehunga Borough. We have so frequently referred to the beauties of the Ellerslie racecourse —the Domain ' of the racing people —that we need say no more on that score, than that we have never seen the grounds quite to such advantage at this time of year. This, it will be understood, means a very great deal, but so much has been done since the Garden Party of fourteen months ago was given, that the changes have been wonderful. The long drives and walks from Greenlane, where the main entrance is, have reached a stage of completeness that was not observable to visitors to the summer meeting of the A.R.C. The shrubs have grown, and the flowering ones have come out to a stage of perfection, and are amongst the added beauties of the most up-to-date racingproperty in the North Island of New Zealand. There is none more popular, and though it is the property of the Auckland Racing Club that body has thrown it open to the public for many fetes and functions from time to time, and by such means advertised it as a pleasure resort. At the Garden Party on Saturday within its walls were many visitors who saw it for the first time, and who were charmed with it, amongst the number being members of the medical profession, who have been with us for a week or more. The band of the 3rd (Auckland) Regiment rendered some choice selections during the afternoon and the catering was done well, as it always is, by Mr. Sinclair. The opportunity for a complete and convenient inspection of the grounds and flower beds was not lost by some, but the rain deterred others, and that some found the proceedings slow as a result goes without saying. The president (Hon. E. Mitchelson) and committee of the A.R.C. are proud, and justly so, of the Ellerslie racegrounds, and with them the people of Auckland and visitors are free in their acknowledgment that they are unrivalled elsewhere in the colonies.

iThe Rules of Racing, made for the guidance of the executives of racing clubs, owners, trainers and riders and all concerned in the sport, should be construed strictly, but there are at times points that baffle the judgment of those responsible for the administration of our racing laws, and tax the judicial minds of experts who have made the rules of racing a study. There was one such case at the Rotortia Jockey Club’s annual meeting, held last Friday. It happened in connection with the last race on the programme, the Farewell Handicap, in which only three horses were engaged, two of them being rehandicapped for previous wins during the day, while the other, Parawai, handicapped at 7.8, and ridden by an apprentice, had the right to a 51b. allowance in consequence, which was duly claimed by Parawai’s owner and conceded by the Clerk of the Scales, who weighed out Parawai’s rider at some ounces over 7.2, relying, as did the owner, on the belief that under rule 9, part XXIV., there was 11b. to come and go on. The race was run, and Parawai, who had run a good fourth to Miss Livonia earlier in the day in the Rotorua Cup, was able, under the very much altered conditions in the weights, to turn the tables on that mare, and also to beat Kotiripo, who finished second. Parawai’s rider had weighed in at the same weight that it was afterwards admitted he went out at, and as 7.3 was the handicap weight, and the scales showed that just over 7.2 had been carried, the 11b. allowed made it appear that all was right, and the rider was then permitted to leave the scales. The stipendiary steward, Mr. R. O. Duncan, came on the scene at the weighing, and on being told that the rider had weighed in as he weigh-

ed out had him put on the scales again, and finding that he was only just over 7.2 raised the question, which was immediately brought under the notice of the stewards, as to whether everything was in order, giving it as his opinion that the wrong construction had been placed upon the rules by the owner and clerk of the scales. Upon that expression of opinion the stewards are said to have based their decision to take the race from Parawai, but the owner of Parawai immediately lodged an appeal, and the stewards instructed the totaiisator proprie.ary not to pay out the pool. The stakes also are held pending the further consideration of the matter by whatever body, if any other, is entitled to determine it. On this point there is some doubt. The stewards decided that Parawai’s rider was short weight. Under what rule? We have failed to discover one that will support the contention.

On a question of short weight their decision would be conclusive if supported by a rule, and could not be reviewed by a District Committee or any other body, but if given on a misinterpretation of the rules would be subject to appeal. The custom in such matters counts. Is it custom-

ary or in accordance with the spirit and intention of the Rules of Racing for riders to be allowed to go out within lib. of the actual weight they are handicapped at or supposed to carry in particular fixed weight events, relying on a lib. allowance from the clerk of the scales on returning thereto? Would the admission of the clerk of the scales and the owner in this instance, to the effect that Parawai was weighted out some ounces or nearly 11b. short of her alloted handicap be sufficient to disqualify after her rider had been declared “all right” when he weighed in, as he undoubtedly was? It would be a strange anomaly if it were to but it seems that the Rotorua stewards based their decision to disqualify on the evidence of their own official of the scales and the owner of the winner, who were frank enough in laying all the facts before them, and on the contention of the stipendiary officer, who admitted that on ascertaining what course had been followed he had had the rider re-weighed and had found him just over 7.2 with his equipments. The action of the clerk of the scales was called in question as the result of these admissions, but whether any admissions would count in the face of the fact that the jockey had been weighed out without any objection and had weighed in and been declared “all right” is a matter that may come into consideration. The question involved is one which should make those who have been in the habit of weighing out very fine consider over. Another matter they should be careful about is in declaring overweight. The practice is not to declare the actual overweight carried when it exceeds by more than

21b. in a flat race and 41b. in a hurdle race or steeplechase. It is necessary that the full amount of such overweight should be declared when those overweights are exceeded. This should not only be done but the extra weight should be exhibited by the clerk of the scales at the place appointed for the purpose. This is a rule more honoured in the breach than in the observance on some courses.

Apprentices' allowances have altered the complexion and possibilities in connection ’with races so frequently since the rule came into force giving them priveleges in certain events, that much subject matter for contention has been raised. In the Farewell Handicap to which reference has been made, the handicapper, after seeing Miss Livonia and Kotiripo win their respective races, considered 121 b. and 51b. respectively was sufficient for the purpose of penalties. The scratching pen left only one to oppose them, and at the scale for that one, Parawai, a 51b. allowance was claimed on behalf of the rider. Thus Miss Livonia vzas set to meet Parawai on 201 b. worse terms than in the previous race in which they had competed, and Kotiripo was set to meet Para-

wai on 101 b. worse terms than on which they had been previously handicapped. It was not altogether dependent upon what penalties Miss Livonia and Kotiripo would receive what horses would oppose them, but it may not have entered into the mind of the handicapper that an allowance would be claimed for the rider of the only other runner. If it had been claimed for each of the others as well the result would have been closer. As we have said before the apprentices’ allowance rule is not working out well, and there are some handicappers who would prefer, if they could, to wait until the riders were declared before announcing their rehandicaps. This is, however, impracticable. The apprentices must be allowed opportunities, but they should have races for themselves, and be penalised or allowed weight according to the number of races they have won or been plaecd in. * * The Rotorua Jockey Club’s annual race meeting is one almost unique, if not quite so, in the Dominion. It is always attended by some oversea and many Dominion tourists, and Maories assemble there probably in greater number, and certainly in more striking costumes as regards colour, than in any other part whore racing is carried on. They dress inexpensively, however, and the ladies don’t wear costly frocks, and very few enter the lawn and stand enclosures, though they do mix with the pakehas there. The number of natives who attend meeting nowadays is not so large as was at one time the case, but at Rotorua probably a third of

those presnt were Maories, or halfcastes, and they are very enthusiastic over the sport, and as keen to invest their money on the chances of the runners as white people, though some perforce of circumstances can only do so to a limited extent. The Rotorua meeting is attended by natives from settlements near about, and many come from afar, just as Europeans do, and the kaingas of the resident natives are made to accommodate the bulk of the visitors. There was a Native Land Court sitting during last week, and that accounted for the presence of some of the native and doubtlessly some of the European visitors. Rotorua people, whether Pakehas or Maoris, are good entertainers. They treat their visitors well, and there is always something of interest to be seen by those who have a little spare time.

A new church is in course of erection at Ohinemutu, and through the courtesy of Mr. A. Warbrick, that onetime champion athlete, the carving house there was visited by a small party, and we, who happened to be of that party, saw two native ministers fully employed in carving the great slabs that are to form part of the exterior and interior of the building. Muscular Christianity this. A glance at their carvings showed that they are craftsmen. Near the same place cooking food from the steam holes which abound there Was in progress, and the washing of clothes was another occupation in which some of the women folk were engaged, and already the big meeting house was made ready to receive a large number of visitors of the race from some distant parts. “Would they do so much for us?” was asked of our guide by one doubting lady, who, in passing, was complimented upon keeping up the prestige of the people of the old place so well. “Are you not going to the races to-day?” was asked of one of the younger ladies in the vicinity. “You bet,” came the quick response. “Most of our people will be there,” and so evidently they were, and the natives at Whakarewarewa, which we visited while the morning was yet young, were busily making their preparations to attend “the play hohio.” Some queried the party as to their knowledge of possible winners. Rotorua has seldom been more full of visitors in the month of February. The annual race meeting reflected the fact, and a more happy-looking, contented crowd has never been seen within the Jockey Club’s domain. The day’s racing was good, the starts and the finishes in most of the events equally so, leaving nothing wanting, and some tone was given to the occasion by the presence of the Prime Minister (Hon. W. F. Massey), Hon. W. Herries (Minister of Railways), Dr. Pomare, Mr. W. D. S. MacDonald, M.P., those good supporters of racing, Messrs. G. P. Donnelly, W. G. Stead (who donated the silver cup won by Miss Livonia), H. E. Troutbeck (who is to donate a cup later on), Jas. Grant, also from Hawke’s Bay, and a whole host of others who came from faraway districts to lend their assistance, in addition to representative horseowners from Auckland and parts of the Waikato and King Country. Most people came by rail, many by motor car, stage coaches and conveyances, and some on horseback. Opotiki, Tauranga, Whakatane, coastal and settlements inland were all represented. Mr. W. Carr, one time its secretary, now president, had a busy time looking after friends and visitors, and pressmen had a lot to thank him for, as he planned out entertainment on their behalf. The fact that the meeting turned out so well is largely due to Mr. Carr’s popularity and the efforts he has always put forward to please the club’s patrons, and he is fortunate in being veil backed up by brother officials and co-work-ers. Over the meeting there will bo a handsome profit, and while the stakes must increase as a consequence further much-needed improvements will be effected. In the meantime, we must congratulate the members of the club and their secretary, Mr. Dyson, on its advancement, for a good deal of credit is due to the last-named.