Stewards Assured Of Support

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31110, 13 July 1966, Page 5

Stewards Assured Of Support

"The Press" Special Service AUCKLAND.

An assurance of support by the executive for stipendiary stewards was given by the president (Mr A. J. Nicholl of Ashburton) in his address to the annual meeting of the Trotting Conference in Auckland yesterday.

“In these days, particularly with large fields and great speed, carelessness must be punished almost equally with deliberate intent,” he said. “An accident occurring in a race endangers life as well as limb and where a stipendiary steward is satisfied that he has witnessed a breach of the rules, his evidence should be accepted as conclusive, knowing as we do that it is often difficult to obtain accurate and satisfactory evidence from the contestants in a race.

“No-one is going to suggest that the work of everybody is faultless, but I feel sure that all club officials who have come in contact with our stipendiary stewards on a racecourse will testify to their sincerity and earnestness of purpose in doing the right thing by the sport, and to their increasing capabilities and knowledge of their business.”

Other points from Mr Nicoil’s address were: Exports Some persons had deplored the export of more than 100 horses to the United States in the last 12 months, said Mr Nicoll. Although it could cause some temporary embarrassment in one or two faster classes ,it could well prove to be the greatest boost the breeding industry had received for years. In spite of the loss of more than 100 horses, there were 1663 individual starters at meetings throughout New Zealand this season. Regulations Regulations controlling the use of the starting gate were to be announced shortly, said Mr Nicoll. They had been decided after discussions with starters, drivers of the vehicles, horsemen and stipendiary stewards. They should minimise the risk to drivers and horses taking part. Although it might not be desirable to have two methods

of starting, he could see no alternative at present. More Information It was intended, when judicial committees were appointed to hear matters involving breaches of the rules, to ask chairmen to consider publishing more fully the reasons for the decision reached. The lack of information in official judgements issued in recent swabbing cases had caused owners and trainers some concern, but he was pleased that the judges in the Final Count appeal had delivered a much more comprehensive explanation with their findings, Mr Nicoll said. Record Record off-course turn-over exceeding £37m was expected to be handled by the Totalisator Agency Board, an increase of about £850,000, or 2.3 per cent above the 196465 figure. Trotting turn-over was down on last year and amounted to £9,636,467, a drop of £21,393. Higher costs had had to be met by the board and the surplus for distribution would show a decrease. The new method of distribu-

tion of the profits of the board had meant a small loss to trotting, but representatives of the sport of the board considered that it was a fairer method and had agreed to its adoption.

Taxation The clubs had received only one-fifth of the amount sought by the conference by way of tax relief and it was only half of what was required to restore stakes for their full 1951 value. This had helped oneday clubs, but it had done little for clubs racing on several days and still achieving small turn-overs. This year a special appeal had been made to the Minister of Finance (Mr Lake) on behalf of those smaller clubs. A sympathetic hearing had been gained and they hoped their case would receive favourable consideration. “I find it hard to understand the Government’s attitude in this matter. Surely any Government, in its own interest, must take steps to safeguard such a source of wealh as flows to it annually from the racing and trotting clubs of New Zealand,” he said.