SPORT OF TROTTING

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3133, 11 July 1917, Page 8

SPORT OF TROTTING

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

ALTERATIONS OF RULES

The annual conferonco of representatives of.trotting clubs registered with the New Zealand Trotting Association was held in Wellington yesterday. 2dr. .Joliu liowe, of Onclmnga, presided.

In the course of his opening addrcsß, the president said that stipendiary stewards had proved "valuable allies" of the officers of clubs. During tlio early part of the season it became necessary for some stewards |to administer drastic punishment for various breaches of the rules; but it was extremely satisfactory to notu that during the latter half of the year nothing of a serious nature had been reported against the holders of licenses. The system of stipendiary stewards had amply proved the wisdom of their appointment. They had been very fortunate in securing capable men. The appreciation of the snort was shown by the ever-increasing attendances and the raising of stakes right, throughout, the Dominion. As compared.with the previous year there had been an lucreaso in stakes of £3365. In addition to Die slakes offered by trotting clubs, there was' also over £8000 given by racing clubs for the trotting events on their programmes, making in all nearly. £30,0(10 received by trotting horse-owners. On the whole tho clubs had conducted their race meetings

in such a way as to leave very little to be desired. Powors of the Conference. Ou the motion of the Auckland Trotting Club, it was resolved:—Thnt Kule 18 bo repealed, aud the following rule substituted: The conference shall havo power at any time to—(1) institute or hold an inquiry into the affairs of tho association or any club, and may deniaud the production of auy hooks, documents'-or infonuatlou which may be considered necessary in the holding of such inquiry, and may make such order in the premises as it may dcem\ ineot. (2) Hero decide and determine appeals from decisions of tho association in auy of the following eases:—(a) In any oasc_ where a club disputes or diflers. or is dissatisfied with any ruling, finding, or decision of .the association, affecting or appertaining to such club or in which such club is interested in any way whatsoever. ' (b) In any ease where the association shall exercise the powers conferred on it by Rule 48 hereof. Nothing herein contained shall bo deemed to confer on tho conference tho right, to hear appculs otherwise thnn by a club from any decision, ruling or finding of the association. (3) Hccommend what, clubs shall be allotted totalisator licenses, and the number thereof. (1) Take evidence cither vlve voce or by declaration, or partly vivo voco or partly by declaration. Jn thn event of any appeal being instituted tinder Subsection 2 hcroof the president shall forthwith appoint three judges (of whom ho may be one) to hcßr and decide tho appeal and fix tho t.imo when and tho place at whioh the appeal shall be heard, and give notice thereof to such persons ns he shall think desirable to afford an opportunity of being heard.

Mixed Trotting Disfavoured. Opponents of "optional" trotting moved that this class of trotting should bo done away with. The motion came forward in this form: "Striko out Bulc 10a, and substitute this: 'In the event of any club holding, two or moro dayß' racing in the year optional racing shall not bo allowed.

It was.gcncrally agreed that mixed trotting was not spectacular, was somewhat dangerous, and did harm to the sport. riie\only difficulty arose on the question ol whether country clubs who put optional trots on the programme could comply with the proposed new rulo, it being saiil that in thoso places all sportsmen would hardly keep sulkies for the little racing they would get out of them. Ihc motion was carried. Trotting Programmes, The Forbury Park Club'sent forward (ho followiug motion for the making of a new rule:-"AU clubs holding more than one meeting a year shall place on their programme, in addition to those provided lor by Jtuie 87, a raco lor threc-vear-old unlioppled horses of the trotting gait only. 0 b Several- delegates spoke in favour of tho motion, but also expressed tho opinion that u these days of racing reductions tho time for carrying out the idea was Inopportune They advised the withdrawal gate a^cd o ."' forburr ParJc dol °-

An amendment. was made, to Rule % ihc rule.roads: "At no race meeting shall here bo more than eight races included ,",,? , ys n , r<, S r *"Jnie, exclusive of heats, and matches, ..or., private sweep-. ■2S?>. h * w n ° >v™° is added by the clutv The amendment made was the striking out of the words: "to which no prize is added by the club."

Errors in Handicapping. _ The Forbury Park Club moved a new rule providing for the rchandicapping of horses in-cases of mistake by the hand"-

me^n/lK* 8 !!' 0 ?' l ho follow '»S amendment by Mr.R. A. Armstrong, Wellinetrm was adopted: "Where a bandicapper makes a written statement that ho has made a bona-fide mistake, tho handicappe? shaU H,,h h w irccti ? n f the committee of Ui" club, before the date of the acceptances SS3& *™ °< h0 - »» „™?i e W , vas a }^ red 6 ° two weeks' oTone w f ee a k Meal M ■ BOW *— ™ en ? od . toAnakc it nccessary toi club secretaries to forward to the editor of the official calendar tlm times of placed horses, and in d stai.ee a° a h r o P r l s n c|. the BroM > d Mt «S«"of It was resolved: "The judge shall nli^P

Further Rule Alterations. ina!!p- f °!^ Vinß . additiou t0 Me 242 was' made:— JVo attendant upon auv tin™, other than his rider or driver, or a start ers assistant specially appointed bvthe" stowards, stall be t-ermitt d ou e rack at the start of any race unless bv the express permission of au official iif pointed by me stewards. Anyow ofieu " MS against this rule shall bfined ,n substituted:- * £ a horse bo disqualified Plac \< bal L ba ? ° arded «■"» Placed, and tho other horses shall iw placed according; to their priority,except that when a'horso has been disaual fled fSr interference with the chance of any horse P. 1 by the judge, tlio stewards may ff th f l , nk ' flt ' p ! ace 6 «"h horse immediflr 1 ! . any horse whose chance has, in the opinion of the stewards, been in terfered with, or in any place the stew- ° 1 ' iU " iCt fiUe uot

The Wellington delegates proposed: "That bracketed on tho totalisator and constitute pne chance." Delegates thought such a rule would be too'arbitrary, and the proposal, was defeated. tJ£,° f0 ] lo «'toB motion by tho representative of the New Zealand Metropolitan .Trotting Club was lost: "The dividend may, at the discretion of the stewards, bo paid in accordance with tho decision of tho stewards, or held over pending tho result of tho. appeal." . . On the motion of the Trotting Association it was resolved: "The rider or driver of every plaoed horse shall, immediately alter nulling up. ride or drive their horse's past the judges box to the place of weighing, and ou being ordered to do so bv a steward they shall dismount, and be'weighed by the clerk of the scales. Provided that ll a jockey or rider be prevented by accident or illness from riding to the place of weighing he may walk or be carried to the scales or bo exempted by the stewards from compliance with this rule"

Review of All Rules. The following report by tho Rules Revision Committee was adopted: As it is now eleven years since the prescut New Zealand Rules of Trotting were enacted— and during that period many amendments have been made—we arc of opinion that the rules and amendments should now ho consolidated. We are strengthened in this view by the altered conditions and control of trotting, and recent diversity of opinion expressed as to the interpretation of the rules and the powers and duties of tho New Zealand Trotting Conference, New Zealand ..Trotting Association and Clubs. Wc aro unanimously of opinion that the whole of tho Rules of Trotting should come under review, and therefore, in the circumstances do not deem it advisable to riirther consider' the question of the constitution of the association ns resolved upon at tho last conforence. Wo would recommend that a. special committee be set up to carry out these suggestions, with power to call such legal assistance as the committco may consider nccossary.

It was resolved: "if no investment ho mado on the first homo in any race, the money shall bo divided amongst, the, backers of tho second horse, or vico versa, and it no investments hn made on the Jirst ami second horses in any race.'' Consideration was given to the rule kovernini; extension pf time for receiving nominations and acceptances and a new rule was made with tho necessary qualifyiin; provision running as follows:—"Esocpl, when an alteration is duly authorised by resolution of the committee and publicly announced." It' was resolved that, p-very jockey Hlin.ll see that his horse carries au armlet number. Officers were elected as follow:—'President, Mr. Johu llowe; Tice-presidcut. Mr. J. v 7. Core; executive, Messrs. D. 11. liobcrts, C. E. Hackay, and J3. Fox. The nejt conference is to be held in Wellington.