TURF & ITS RULERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1806, 19 July 1913, Page 6

TURF & ITS RULERS.

THE CONFERENCE,

REVISION OF THE RULES,

COUNTRY RACING.

BATTLE ROYAL AT MEETING.

Tiio annual conferoneo of representatives of New Zealand Jockey Clubs was continued yesterday, the president (Sir Georgxj Clifford) being again in the cliair. The business transacted consisted mainly of additions and alterations to the rules. On the motion of the president, Part XXII, 'Rule 9, was altered, extending tho term of jockeys' apprenticeship from two to .three years. A consequential amendment to Rule 2 of tho same part was also agreed upon. New rules wero added to the same part to read as follow:— In tho event of any apprentice not having sorved the full term of his apprenticeship through illness or other cause, the period of his absence from service shall 1)6 added to the term of his indentures. All apprentices' riding fees shall be paid to the secretary of the conference, who shall pay to the persons entitled thereto tho proportions provided for in tho agreement of apprenticeship. Any employer or apprentice accepting payment of riding fees otherwise may be disqualified, unless, within seven days of receiving notice from tho secretary of tho conference, he shall remit such fees to the said secretary. An apprentiop who has served as an apprentice continuously for at least one year may be granted a license to ride as an apprentice jockey. Consequential amendments followed in Part XX, Rule 4, and appendix. ' Horses at the Post. The Hawke's Bay Jockey Club (Mr. Geo Hunter) proposed an addition to Part XXV, Rule 2, to provido that: "No horse shall be sent to the post more than fifteen minutes before the time appointed for starting." This was designed to create uniformity on the subject, and to do away with the trouble that existed where highly-strung horses wero sent on to the racing track much earlier than was necessary. Mr. E. W. Alison seconded the motion. During tho discussion that followed, Mr. C. G. Dalgety declared that it was "one of the disgraces of tho turf in New Zealand" that starts were delayed for the totalisator. Ho did not think that all clubs delayed the starts, but he was certain that a great many did so. Eventually it was decided to defer consideration of tho matter until next year, it being left to the discretion of- the executive to frame a recommendation on the question. "Attendants" at Starts. The president (at the request of the Stipendiary Stewards' Committee) pronosed an additional rule reading as follows :— Part XXV, New Ri|lo 8. No attendant upon any horse", other than his jockey or a starter's assistant specially appointed by the stewards, shall be permitted at tho start of any race, unless by tho express permission of tho stewards. Anyone offending . against this rule shall be fined an amount not exceeding 50 sovs.— Carried. Finality of Stewards' Findings. Part XXXI, Rule 7, was altered, at the request of Appeal Judges (one of them a King's -Counsel), by the substitution of the word "decision" for tho word "finding." Tho decision of the stewards is now conclusive (and not subject to appeal) in regard to: (a) Short weight; (b) a cross or jostle; (c) a start in front of the post, or on a wrong .course, or before the appointed time; and (d) an obvious pull. This rule camo under further notice when the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club (the Hon. J. D. Ormond) moved to delete the whole' of the following words:—The decision of tho stewards on the following matters shall bo conclusive, and not subject to appeal, viz.: (a) Short weight; (b) a cross or jostle; (c)■ a start in front of the post, or on a wrong course, or before the appointed time; (d) an obvious pull. Jockeys Before Stewards. Tho mover referred to the Barlow oase and the Julian case, and the irregularities that had been discovered in the proceedings therein. In many cases tho jockeys wero called hurriedly before tho stewards and dealt with before they liad any time to preparo a defence, but, worso still, they were very often absolutely -unfitted to conduct their own cases. The Hon. 0. Samuel, who seconded the motion, referred to tho clauso in its present form as a blot upon the miles. Ho pointed out the disabilities under which jockeys laboured when summoned hurriedly before a meeting of stewards to which, tho press were not admitted. The motion met with strong opposition, and on being put to the vote was lost, the ayes being 8 and the noes 24. . Disqualified Horses. At tho request of tho Stipendiary Stewards' Committee, the president moved an addition to Part XXXI, Rule 11, so as to make the rule read as follows:— If a horse Vie disqualified for a rnco ho stall be regarded as unplaced, and tho other horses shall be placed accordingly. Except that whan a horso has been disqualified for interference with the chance of any horse placed by tho judge, tho stewards may, if they tliink fit, placo sucli liorso immediately after any horso whose chance has, in the opinion of the stewards, been interfered with.This was parried, and brings the rule into line with tho Australian Rrales of Racing. • Miscellaneous Matters. Alterations to Part XXXII were also agreed upon, one of theso providing for a penalty of 10 per cent, every month in respect of arrears notified in the Official Calendar. On the motion of the Taranaki Jockey Club, Part XXXIII, Rule 3, was amended in a form stipulating that the automatic provided for shall be fixed terms of six months (instead of onethird of tho original term),' and shall bo imposed by tho president or by the District Committeo in whoso district tho offence is committed. By order of the last conference, tho president brought forward a resolution in tho following terms:— Whenever the duly audited accounts -of the general trust funds, as submitted to the conference, shall show a credit balance of more than ,£10,000; then, and in such caso, Iho general trustees may apply such surplus over and above the sum of .£IO,OOO, or any portion of such surplus in pnvment of tho expenses incurred bv the Racing Conference in connection with tho services of stipendiary stewards. It was decided to adopt the rules for "stipendiary stewards" as drawn up by the Stipendiary Stewards' Committee. The proposals, which were brought forward by the Wellington Racing Club, for the temporary disqualification of horses insufficiently schooled at tho starting gate, wero discussed at great length, but wero eventually adjourned until the next conference. Age of Horses. The new rule (passed on Thursday) relating to the age of horses was amended by including the word "racing" before the word "year." Tho age of a horse will now date (as before) from August 1 of tho racing year in which he is foaled. Transit of Horses. It was decided that a deputation, consisting of the president, Hon. J. D. Ormond, Messrs. Miller, Buckley, Bidwill. ami Dalgety, be appointed to wait upon the Hon. the Minister for Railways, and ui'Ro upon him tho necessity of making better provision for tlm transit of racchorses to race meetings in ihe direction •Tii ' I Mviuing up-to-date. horso boxes •with 'iropei - convenience? f,or the animal,

such as lighting, ventilation, padding, ctc., and also for the attendants. (2) That to avoid contagion strict instructions bo issued that liorso boxes bo properly disinfected before and after use. (3) That when race meetings are l>eing held within four weeks of cach other at centres on the same lino of railway, horses should bo allowed to break the journey either going or returning.—The deputation duly placed those matters before the Minister later in. the afternoon. Thanks. A vote of thanks was extended to the Mayor and City Council for the uso of the Council Chamber for the meetings of representatives, and to the Municipal Conference for the uso of furniture. Election of President. On tho motion of the Hon. 0. SatmtfL, M.L.C., seconded by Mr. G. Hunter, M.P.. Sir George Clifford was re-elected president. Tho mover and the seconder both spoke in high terms of tho character and ability of tile president, and wished him long lifo to continue his efforts in the interests of the sport.