THE CLUBMAN

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1576, 8 July 1920, Page 8

THE CLUBMAN

The Auckland Racing Club’s classic races, the entries for which closed last month, have proved attractive for horse owners and breeders throughout the Dominion. If they have not been taken notice of in the same way by owners in the Commonwealth, it is because there is not the same inducement for Australian owners to patronise New Zealand meetings . as there is for New Zealand racing men to look further afield than the Dominion, where the opportunities for good horses are not so great as in the island continent, where racing men are not afraid to launch out for the choicest goods. It is encouraging to find the 30 or more classic races in the Dominion are as well supported as they are, and that in the lists already made up there are quite a good number of Australian purchases, coming two-year-olds, most of them disposed of at the annual autumn sales at Randwick by well-known breeders. On the whole, New Zealand buyers have been rather fortunate with their Australian selections, and the fact of a number of New Zealand studs having been dispersed has lessened the opportunities for racing men to add to their stables from supplies within the Dominion’s borders. There, are more owners in evidence, too, and more breeders racing what they produce on their own estates. The Auckland Racing Club is not singular in receiving big entries, but the excellent stakes are a big draw everywhere, and record figures so far disclosed have been reached not only in the Dominion, but in New South Wales and Victoria, and further showing how popular the great sport of the people is, attendances at race meetings during the season have also shown a bigger average.

The secret ballot taken last week, ended as we predicted in a practically unanimous decision on the part of the jockeys throughout New Zealand against a strike. After the New Zealand Jockeys’ Association , was formed last spring it was claimed that it had a full strength of 216 members, but withdrawals for various reasons assigned were estimated on the one hand at 90, and by the secretary of the association very much below that number. It is

known that many of the jockeys did not vote, some for the reason that having resigned they had no standing. Of the 133 that voted, all but eight were against striking, and of the 133, no fewer that 56 of the votes were void, presumably because the voters no longei’ belong to the association, though it is known that many who do, did not exercise their right. The question as to the value of the ballot has been raised, but their can be no doubt that extreme measures never appealed to the majority of the horsemen from the start. The promised support of recommendations or suggestions which are to come before the Racing Conference in the course of next week, and which will result in the betterment of the conditions of the horsemen and the apprentices as well, played an important part in connection with the matter. The jockeys have been practically assured of a fair deal all round in the coming season, and with one section fully satisfied on that point, and the majority hopeful that the main objects of forming the association will be achieved indirectly, there was nothing to be gained by continuing an aggressive spirit, but all to lose. It might easily have been different had those concerned not realised that what was wanted could be got without resorting to strike methods. We have always contended that the jockeys could have won off their own bat without enlisting outside aid. It is for the Conference now to deal with the matters bearing on the situation, and the delegates should be conversant with the business with which they will have to undertake.

One of the questions again to be introduced at the Racing Conference concerns the licensing of riders. Whether this should be left to the district, committees as in the past, or be in the hands of the Racing Conferenc is the main point at issue. There are arguments for leaving matters as they are, and arguments for a change in the system. There are admitted difficulties whichever way the question is decided. The district committees* would sometimes be pleased to be relieved of the responsibility of deciding for or against applicants. It will be con-

tended that the most competent people to deal with the licensing of riders are those who represent the metropolitan districts, and should, if they do not, see more of the riders than a committee selected from the delegates of the Racing Conference would. It has been over and over again urged that district committees issue licenses when they should not do so. Many cases have been referred to where one committee has refused and another has granted licenses, where an executive of the New Zealand Racing Conference would have been the better qualified to decide, freed from local influences. There is a fear that if a Racing Conference executive had the full power they would have to rely largely on the reports of the stipendiary stewards. Why not of the district committees as well? Quite recently a horseman who twice applied to a district committee and was each time refused a license to ride, and each time told that he need not apply again, went to another district and obtained a license. On the eve of a recent meeting, indeed, on the very day it commenced, a horseman who had for some seasons been turned down, was put through and obtained his brief in record time. Everything may have been quite in order, and it is pleasing to find capable riders getting a fair chance to redeem themselves, but people keep asserting that the influence of owners and the shortage of riders has had something to do with the restoration of some licenses, though the district committees should be given more credit for their general work in connection with the licensing of horsemen than they receive. Sometimes there are influences at work to prevent riders getting back who would have an equal claim to consideration.

One of the best reasons for transferring the responsibility to the Racing Conference would be that licenses would not be granted to horsemen who have no recent services to show which would warrant them in obtaining them, and too many have found this quite an easy matter. There are some ex-jockeys who travel about a good deal from meeting to meeting and who have no regular occupation in stables, and very rarely do

any riding. The Racing Conference authorities keep the records of all riders, and though they could furnish the district committees with all the information On that point from season to season, or from month to month if needed, in many quarters it is held that a change in the control of this department would be for the betterment of the sport. Horsemen who keep their records clean have no reason to object to the control passing from the district committees. They have nothing to fear, but much to gain. Much better to hold licenses direct from the head office than from committees which have granted licenses in .cases where other committees have refused. It has been suggested that the fact of some jockeys having been punished over the Avondale Jockey Club’s trouble while others have got off free, or have not had their actions reviewed at all despite the report of the executive of that club on their conduct, is a strongargument why one body only should decide such a matter. In this connection it would be very interesting to know why the decisions of other district committees over the Avondale matter were not made public property. * * * *

The embargo placed by the Seamen’s Union on the carriage of racing and thoroughbred horse stock has already had a much more far-reach-ing effect than may be generally supposed. The exportation and importation of stud and racing stock, the transference of horses and ' their attendants to race meetings by sea, thereby affecting the revenue of shipping companies and putting a check upon the enterprise of breeders and sportsmen and preventing an interchange of thoroughbred blood, is all serious business for those who have interests at stake. Now. that the horsemen of the Dominion have declared that they did not desire any such treatment to be meted out to sportsmen and others who have been hit in various ways, it is to be hoped that we shall never again experience such a condition of affairs once the business is back to normal. Happier relationships should prevail in the future, and feelings of resentment raised amongst he contending forces should be sunk.