ASHBURTON RACING CLUB.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1251, 31 May 1886, Page 2

ASHBURTON RACING CLUB.

A special meeting of the members of the Ashburton Racing Club was ho d at the Club’s room on Saturday evening for the purpose of considering the new rules of racing adopted by the Canterbury and Dunedin Jockey Clubs. There was a large attendance and Mr C. W. Purnell occupied the chair. The Chairman said that before proceeding to the discussion of the rules ha would like to correct a statement which had appeared in one of the local papers on the previous evening. It was stated that a section of the Committee was opposed to the rule requiring the submission of country race programmes lo one or ptber of the Metropolitan Clubs. As a mat

Ur of fact the meiub.ua of tho God mlttee mt: unanimous in their opposition to this rule, and it would be well that thi Canterbury Jockey Club should undei stand there was no division of opinion o: the subject. Some members thought o usuleta to persist in their opposition, bu none had expressed approval of the ru) framed by the Metropolitan Clubs. Hr had nal tho new rules, and had no hesita tion in saying they were, generally, carefully drawn, and a vast improveinen u.ion tho rules they superseded. But thrum requiring the unconditional submit*

sn-n of country programmes was t the highest degree objectionable. No other ' lab in th > Wf rid, not oven th--autocratic English Jockey Club, had pteainni d to make such a demand, and h-

w»s not surprised to notice thai some members of the Canterbury Club had expressed doubt who thin the country Clubs avould submit. Thei' was no 0 jio ion to’t ae Met opolitan Club providing rules to fix the amounts of tad do : money and rho charges to be made •<

iwncrs for nominations and acceptances

But such rules could bo provided and enfo e d wi hout iutoife rmg in an oflen sivoiiiannerwith tho independence of country Clubs, and, so far as ho could see, there was no rule in the now code which woul ■ aff.-cl the mushrom meeting it was desired

to suppress. Ho had evory confidence in the present committee of tha CanterburyJockey Club ; he believed the member 1 * had an earnest desire to forward tho interes s t f cpnrt by all legitimate means; but they bad adopted a rule which might admit of serious abuse. The Committee should have consulted the country clubs, and treated them with mote candor and courtesy. As the rule stood at present, a country Club might name its programme on tho Hues defined by tho new rules, might do everything that could bo reasonably expected from a well conducted racing institution, and still tho Metropolitan I lab could step in and say tho meeting should not bo hold. An arbitrary power of this sort should not be granted to any body of men, certainly not to a body of men over whom they had no c ntrol and of whom, in tho future, they might have no knowledge Several courses of action had been suggested to the Committee of the Ashburton Racing Dlub. Oua was to combine wbh other Clubs in the provincial district ana form a Mid-Canterbury Pacing Club, to be independent of the present Metropolitan Club. Another suggeson was to th© e fleet that racing in this di trlct should ho suspended tint 1 tho objectionable rule was rescinded or modified. Ho did not know whether either ■if these suggestions would meet with the approval of the meeting, but be was qui-e sure a majority would not quietly nunmit to tho indignity thrust upon them from Christchurch. Lie had no desire to inspire opposition to the Canterbu-y Jockey Club, indeed he thoughi it highly important that they should preserve a good feel ng with their contemporaries, but they wi-u cl neither serving their own intorea's nor tho intere.ita of sport if they did not raise their voice in protest against this objectionable feature of the new rules. Mr Mathew Stitt said ho agree I com rally w.th tho remarks which had fallen from tho Chi.irnmi. but ho thought it would be suicidal t > enter u on ;v irrit of strength with tho Canterbury Jockey Club, and to stop 1 cd rcc ng would be spiting themselves. Ho had no doubt the Metropaliiau Club would be ‘ amenable to reason, and if ‘he urbit.ary nature of the new rule were pointed out it might bo amended. ihere was not the bligetest chance of combining a dis trict largo enough to be independent ol , the Canterbury Club. Tho Chairman pointed out that there might be soma clubs north of Christchurch that disapproved of the rule, anc would join tho s nit hern clubs in taking ind-neudant action. Mr M. Ffiodhmder said there were only two courses open to tha Ashburton C.ub; it must either submit to the now rule or cease to exist. Air Dens' ire said ho naturally felt some i diffidence in discussing this question, at i several prominent and very useful members of * the Committee had expressed s determination to resign if the objectionable rule were adopted. Ho agreed with Mr Friedl-utder that they must either submit or dissolve the Club, and he was strongly in favor of the former course. Mr tS- Friodlauder thought they had committed a grave error in not moving in this matter earlier. They should have appointed a deputation to urge their objections to the Metropolitan Club before the adoption of the rules. It was not likely that the Canterbury Jockey Club would consent to exempt the Ashburton Kacin"' Club from the operation of the uile, and t-.e formation ol a Mid-Canter-bury Jockey Cl "b would not improve matters. Horses that might run at country meetings not held undei the titles would still be disqualified, and the Metropolitan Curb would ultimately obtain the bettor of the struggle. Mr Thomas said the rules were adopted at a very sparsely attended meeting ot the Canterbury Jockey Club, and some members had remarked upon tho arbitrary character of tho rule now under discussion. Ho had no doubt tho present Committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club would make only a proper use of tho power given by the objectionable rule, but four or five years hence another Joseph might be in power, and demand that this, that, and the other thing should bo done, and a variety of other things should not be done. By this means a Committee having fads or prejudices might practically ruin Ho country clubs. He moved—“ That the attention of country clubs bo called to rule 20 of tho now code, arid that they bo asked to co-operate in an elfort to have the same rescinded or modified.” vskS .i { Mr Crisp motion. | Mr 11 Friodlauder thought they should

submit Tho rule w-s evidently framet with tho object of giving power to tin Metropolitan Club to suppress objection able racing. It was high'y desirable thal the Club should have that power, and il would bo time enough to cdl out when tho Committee of tho Jockey Club abused its trust. Mr Denshire could not soo how the other rules could bo enforced if the one complained of were rescinded. lie fell sure tho Jockey Club would make no improper use of its power, lie moved as an amendment— “ That tho new' rules be adopted.” The amendment was not aec >nded, Mr C. C. Fooks said he had every confidence in the present Committee of the Jockey Club ; he believed members would do their utmost to assist legitimate sport, But there was no guarantee that future Committees would bo so fortunately constituted. The real difficulty arose from tho need to enforce the other rules, but this could be done by the publication of a racing calendar, in which the programmes of all clubs, complying with tho other rules, would bo published. One of the weekly papers would doubtless undertake the publication of the Calendar on terms which would meet with tho approval of all the Clubs concerned. A further discussion ensued, and ultimately the motion proposed by Mr Thomas was put to tho meeting and I ...1

It was resolved —“ That a Committee, consisting of the Chairman, Mr Crisp, Mr ,H Friedlander, and Dr. Ross, bo appointed to draft a letter to the country clubs, setting out the Ashburton Racing Club’s objections to rule 20 of the new rules of racing.” The proceedings then terminated.