CONTROL OF RACING.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 875, 22 July 1910, Page 2

CONTROL OF RACING.

THE CONFERENCE. MEASURES AGAINST MISCONDUCT. PRESIDENT'S INTERESTING REVIEW. The annual conference of representatives _ of New Zealand Jockey Clubs opened yesterday morning at the Town Hall,, under the presidency of Sir George Clifford. The following is the list of delegates:—Auckland Racing Club, Messrs. George Dunnet, 11. T. Gorrie; Auckland Country Clubs, Messrs. E. W. Alison, W. H. Herries, M.P.; Canterbury Jockey Club, ; Sir George Clifford, Bart., Mr. A. Boyle; Canterbury Country Clubs (South of Hurimni River), Messrs. H. Friedlander, C. E. Thomas; Canterbury Country Clubs (north of Hurunui River), Mr. H. D. Vavasour; Dunedin Jockey Club, Sir. P. Miller, Sir G. M'Lean; Otago Country clubs, Messrs. J. Latham, G. M. Proctor; Hawke's Bay Jockey Club, Mr. G. Hunter, Hon. J. D. Orniond, M.L.C.; Hawke's Bay Country Clubs, Messrs. E. J. Gothard, Johu M'Y'ay; Wanganui Jockey Club, Messrs. E. A. Campbell, H. M. Speed;, Wanganui Country Clubs, Messrs. D. Buick, M.P., E. Goodbehere; Wellington Racing Club, Messrs. J. W. Abbott, W. H. S. Moorhouse; Wellington Country Clubs, Messrs. W. E. Bidwill, 0. C. Cooper; Taranaki Jockey Club, Hon. 0. Samuel, M.L.C.; Taranaki Country Clubs, Messrs. A. W. Budge, R. H. Nolan; Greymoutk Jockey Club, Mr. M. Hannan; Greyinouth Country Clubs, Messrs. J. Colvin, M.P., C. Hood Williams; secretary, Mr. W. H. E. Wanklyn. PRESIDENT'S REPORT. IMPROVEMENT OF RACING. The president, in his report, after alluding, with satisfaction to the completion of the difficult and delicate task of rearranging conflicting racing colours, stated that the 'greater caution in the issue of jockeys' licenses, as recorded last year, had not been maintained. In 19089, 28 licensed jockeys had no rides, 'and in 1909-10 there were 56 in the same position, while '13 had one ride, 29 had two rides, 22 had three rides, and 22 had four rides. Nearly all these licenses should have been refused, to the benefit alike of the applicants and of the meetings at which such: spurious jockeys congregated. A back-handed liberality of this sort only encouraged the unemployed and unemployable jockey to hang about racecourses until idleness transmuted him into a tout and spieler, and he became a disgraco to an active and highly honourable profession. Unregistered Meetings. The report of the committee upon the number of days' racing showed no increase in the number of totalisator meetings, during a period in which the population of 'the Dominion had risen from under 750,000 to an estimated 950,000; so that, even allowing for some additional days added to the larger meetings, there had teen no proportionate increase. There had been an actual decrease in the number of days' racing holtl by registered non-totalisator clubs, but the number of race meetings of unregistered clubs, over which tho conference had no control, had increased, and tended further to do so. The committee might well characterise this state cf affairs as unfortunate, tho only reasons for the existence of an unregistered meeting being that it was unfit for registration, or that it desired to escape the restrictions which past experience had accumulated for the security of honest men. It could not be too widely known that the conference was in no way responsible for unregistered meetings, and had ever striven to protect the public against the abuses inherent to them. The Breed of Horses. There seemed to be an inclination on the part of a few clubs to the retrograde step of lessening the distances of races. This was bad policy. Long races were more conducive to a large attendance than short sprints; moderate ' fields afforded more .pleasure than very large ones, and the consequent . increased popularity was fur more important to the finance of clubs than the swelling of entries. There were other obvious considerations, inasmuch as nearly' all the great sires in tho history' of tho thoroughbred horse had been proved stayers, which practically meant their superiority in the working machinery of the frame, and notably of the heart and lungs. The racing during the season now drawing to its close has been most satisfactory'as to the class of the horses competing,, and as to the general improvement of the courses. The horses had proved themselves able to cope with their competitors in Austra- , Ija and India, and the lint* thus.obtained indicated that New Zealand's claim to possess an ideal breeding-ground was not ill-founded. . ■ . "A Wholesome British Pastime." After dealing (as reported elsewhere) with the position of tho bookmakers under the Gaming Act, and the 'threatened abolition of the totalisator, the president concluded:—"Steps are being taken to test the legality of certain charges upon tho revenues of clubs, believed to bo outside the intention, if not outside the_ strict wording, of the Act, and which, in our opinion, the Stamp Department should not have demanded. If amendment-of the Act is contemplated, we may look for rectification of this doubtful point, and perhaps also for the repeal of the useless prohibition of tho publication of the totalisator figures—information of interest to the public, the suppression of which is advantageous to the dishonest gambler alone. Once freed from the artificial evils to which I have referred, the sport of racing will, I am assured, assert itself as a wholesome British pastime. Its past records we can recall with pride, and to its future we can theif look forward with confidence." GENERAL BUSINESS. FINANCE. Tho annual statement of receipts and expenditure showed a balance in bank at June 30, 1910, of iS44 16s. <fd. The accident fund had at the same dato •C 9500 on fixed deposit, in addition to a bank balance of ,£258 Bs. fid. The accounts were adopted. The president stated that the provi-1 dent funds of the different clubs now amounted to <£6142 18s., find the disburse- , ments last year were only .£175 7s. -lOd. Two clubs,- Canterbury and Wellington, had spent money on ambulance facilities, chiefly for use at country meetings. All country clubs ought to know that thn money was there. The fund was larger than was necessary for the customary purposes, and he therefore suggested that it should be used partly in making allow-1 anees to injured jockeys. A discussion, favourable in the main to tho president's views, followed, but no motion was passed. Mr. Arnaud M'Kellar was appointed auditor. Permits and Racing Dales. The committee 011 totalisator permits, dates of race meetings, etc., reported that with regard (0 the applications for additional or new permits by the StrathTaieri, Stratford, Taranaki, Marton, Wavcrley-Waitotara, Horowhcuua, Tara-tahi-Cartortou, and Wairarana Clubs, the emnmittec had 110 recommendation to make, as there were 110 permits available. This clause was adopted, and the conference decided to ask for a permit for tho t'apakuru Racing Club, the Auckland district being entitled to ono more permit. The same committee recommended approval of dates of race meetings, subject to tho following amendments:—H orowhenua Hacl; Racing Club's,date, altered to September 2 and 3; Lower Valley Jockey Club, September 22 and 23; Otak'i Maori Racing Club, October 12 and 13; Wellington Racing Club, two days, from. October 19 to 22; Taratahi-Carterton Racing Club, November 9 and 10; Dannerirko Raring Club, November 16 and 17; Manawatu Racing Club's Summer meeting, December 20 and 27,. and a day prior to those days; Mastcrton Racing Club, October 27 and 28, or any other dates, subject, to approval of tho president, in lieu of December 2G and 27; Wellington Racing Club, January 21, 23, and 25, with the option of altering ono of tho days; Manawatu Racing Club's Autumn meeting, April 3- and I; tho dates of tho Hawke s Bay Jockey Club and Egmont

Racing Club to remain, but tlio Egmont Club, if it considers tlio clashing would affect its meeting, to be given the option of selecting Jlav 17 and 18, or other dates to the satisfaction of the president, for this season only; South Canterbury Jockey Club, to select other dates for their Autumn meeting, to the satisfaction of the president; Ashburton County liacing Club, to liavo the option of changing their Autumn dates to May 17 and 18. ■Mr. W. 13. Bidwill claimed that the Wellington Eacing Club should be allowed four, days for its summer meeting, liko certain other metropolitan clubs. A motion to grant the club January 28, in addition to tlw other dates, was lost on the voices. Tlio recommendations weie adopted. Registration of Clubs. It was resolved, on the recommendation of tjie same committee, that the Waioeka Jockey Club (Auckland district) be given permission to change its name to Opotiki Jockey Club; that the Waiau Hack Racing Club (Canterbury district) be given permission to change its liamo to Waiau Eacing- Club; that the certificates of the following clubs be cancelled, not having held race meetings during 1909-1910, and there being no record of their programmes having been passed by their respective metropolitan committees:—Awanui Eacing Club, Mauku Eacing Club, Waiuku Eacing Club, Marlborough Mounted Rifles, Studholme Mounted Eifles, Tiiiwald Sports Club, Motueka ■ Valley Eacing Club, Mohaka Hack Eacing Club, Tikokino Hack Eacing Club, Drummoiul Sports Association, Taranaki Agricultural Society, Waihi Sports Club, and Wanganui Agricultural Association. With reference to several applications for registration the committee was not prepared at present to recommend any new registrations. RULES OF RACING. MANY AMENDMENTS. Forty motions for amending the rules of racing, as adopted by the conference ill preceding years, were to hand from the constituent clubs. On a motion from Canterbury it was resolved to amend the rules so as to bring the whole of the provincial district of Westland under the metropolitan jurisdiction of the Greymouth Jockey Club. On tho motion of the president, the interpretation of winnings was struck out and the following substituted;—"'Winnings'means and includes any moneys or prizes actually credited to a winning 'Jiorso as receivable by his owner or any other person from a club or clubs for winning any advertised race or .race's in any country during the rucing year." Legal Proceedings. Part 11, Eule 1, forbids persons subject to the rules to take any legal proceedings against the conference or any club, or the. officials of any of those bodies. On the motion of the Hon. 0. Samuel it was resolved to extend the samo privilege of immunity from litigation to "the printers or publishers of, or persons selling, distributing, or delivering, the Official • Calendar." ' A motion from the North Canterbury Country Clubs, proposing to.make .it obligatory (instead of optional, as hitherto) for stewards to elect a judicial committee, was lost on the voices. The Hon. 0. Samuel moved to recommend the clubs to take advantage of the power to appoint a judicial committee as above. This was carried. A Hawke's Bay motion was designed to compel every meeting to include at least one flat race of not less than one mile and a quarter (instead of olio mile, as hitherto) on each day. Several speakers contended that this would be prejudicial to country clubs. The motion was lost. "A Sporting Proposal." The Hawke's Bay Jockey Club desired to add tho following to the rules;—" The programme of every meeting held on any day from June 7 to September 1 inclusive, shall include at least' one maiden or hack steeplechase." ''This is a sporting proposal," said the mover (Mr. G. Hunter), "and therefore 1 can hardly expect this conference to favour it." He thought the conference usually showed more interest in £ s. d. than.'in sporting- 'questions. Mi. Is. \Y. Alison (Auckland) protested against such a statement being made in the conference. ■ Mr. J. W. Abbott opposed the motion in the interests of the Wellington Eacing Club. He stated that there were not enough stecplechasing horses in the -district for such a race. The thing had been tried, and had not been a success, and the fact that the meeting occurred at the end of the season was a further ■hindrance. Mr. W. E. Bidwill supported the motion, as a means towards increasing the number of* jumping horses. Tho motion wa9 carriea. Archers of. the Future. In the interest of stable-boys who may ht> undeveloped Arohvrs in disguise, Mr. A. Boyle, for the Canterbury Jockey Club, moved to add the following to the rules:—"Clubs holding four or more days' racing between September. 1 and Juno 7 inclusive, and whose stakes exceed .4500U per annum, shall provide at least one race during the racing season conilned to apprentices who have not won more than live races previously." The motion was lost. The penalty for "entering ah unnamed horse in any handicap" was struck out on the motion of the president. • The penalty for "running an unnamed horse in any race" remains in the rule. , Against "Buttonholing." Mr. Bidwell, for the "Wellington Country Clubs, moved the following new rulo relating to trainers and jockeys;—" That all licenses bo granted by a licensing committee of the confereneo, and issued by the secretary." The mover said that while licenses wero granted, as at present, by the metropolitan clubs, there wa» bound to be a great deal of buttonholing,. He had done it himself, and with success, so he knew. A system that tempted racing men in that way was faulty. In the course of discussion the president supported the motion. The motion was lost. Reports on Misconduct. The following new rule was added at the instance of the Canterbury Jockey Club:—"When any licensed trainer or jockey has been called before the stewards or committee of any club and punished, reprimanded, or warned, a report of the proceedings shall be sent to the metropolitan committee, who shall forward it to the secretary of the Eacing Conference. Such report shall be entered in a book to be kept for the purpose, and shall be open for inspection by the officials of any club." A Hawke's Bay motion to take from clubs the right to retain 2J- per cent, on jockeys' fees collected by them for the jockeys was defeated. Point-to-point Steeplechases. The rulo to prevent unlicensed persons (with certain exceptions) from riding in any race was amended by excepting point-to-point steeplechases from its operation. A South Canterbury motion to exempt riders in point-to-point steeplechases from the compulsion to' wear skull caps was carried., Dangerous Horseshoes. Tho following new rulo was adopted at the instance of the Canterbury Jockey Club:—"A horse shall be disqualified for the race if he runs in shoes or plates having a sharp flange or sharp projection, and the owner and trainer of such horse, and any person who shall assist in shoeing a horse with such shoes, shall be fined by the stewards in a sum of not less than .£25." Canterbury Jockey Club proposed to reduce from 15 to 10 minutes the time within which objection to a horse, on account of anything occurring during a race must be made. This was lost. The Taranaki Jockey Club wished to make an addition to the rules so that, if a race is' ordered to be run again, by reason of any act or omission of any official of the club, the stewards may cause to be refunded any money paid for tickets on any horse not running again, subject to such conditions as the stewards may impose. The motion was lost. Drugging Horses. The president moved an addition' to the rules to declare" any person guilty of a corrupt practice and liable to disqualification for any period or for life, who "shall administer or cause to be administered for the purpose of affecting the speed of a horse, drugs or stimulants internally or h.v hvpodnrinic or other

methods." The president said ho had been asked whether this would prevent giving a horse, whisky or brandy. He considered that it would. He had on many occasions administered whisky to nervous horses, to givj them a fictitious courage, but he did not believe the stimulant had any elfcct. Such a rule as he proposed was in forco in England and Australia, and he thought it was necessary for tlio purpose 'of curbing would-be clever trainers. Ho had been asked whether electric spms would be legal in Now Zealand, and this showed that there was a possibility of improper devices being attempted in this country.' The "motion was carried. Appeals from Disqualification. Part XXXIII, Eule -5, states that "an appeal from the decision of every metro. - politan committee may be made to the conference." The following addition, (moved by the president) Was adopted:— "And no disqualification, fine, or penalty so affirmed or imposed by the judges ' shall be remitted either wholly or in part otherwise than by a resolution of the conference, or by a decision of judges, who may be appointed by the president, 1 on the request of the conference, for a reconsideration 'of such disqualification, fine, or penalty, such judges to Tie ap« oointed as provided by this part, and to have all the powers therein given tc judges so appointed." No bookmaker is allowed to run a horse at any meeting where he holds a- . license. This rule was extended to prevent any bookmaker having any interest in a horse under those circumstances. Minor' amendments to tho Tules were also made, and' several motions to amend them in various particulars were allowed to lapse. A Petition. The judges appointed bj- the conference to decide upon tho petition of Louis Harris (Auckland) for remission of a disqualification imposed upon him re. ported that they were not unanimous as to whether the- rules of racing gave them power to remove such disqualification. They had, therefore, refrained from con* sidering the petition. • The president was authorised to appoint judges to deal with the matter. . The Dates and Permits Committee was! reappointed. President Re-elected. Sir George M'l/ian, in proposing the re-election of Sir George Clifford as president, said the conference had the fullest . confidence in him, and hoped hs. would retain the offico for many years to come The Hon. ' O. Samuel seconded th< motion, which was then unanimously carried. v The president briefly acknowledged the honour. A motion recording high appreciation of the services of Sir G. Clifford to racing throughout the Dominion and to . the conference was moved by Mr. E. W. Alison, and carried by acclamation.