RACING CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3136, 14 July 1917, Page 2

RACING CONFERENCE

CONTROL OF THE SPORT

BIG LIST OF PROPOSALS

The conference of representatives of New Zealand jockey clubs vr.ie hold in Wellington yesterday, Sir George Clifford presided,

In the course of liis report tho president said:—"ln respect of the internal administration of racing, wo can justly point to steady improvement in the healthy working of the institution. The stipendiary stewards have done good work, with many beneficial results scarcely observable by tho public. The absence of evil is le.vs conspicuous than its presence. Their assistance hns especially been valuable in restraining breaches of Rood behaviour among the few jockeys who might be inclined to dishonour their profession. There is, however, still room for a stricter supervision of licenses, na some men have apparently obtained them for the solo object of free entry to racecourses. While wo have played our part strenuously and without sparing expenditure in conforming to legislative requirements, wo may justly complain that we do not find the expected assistance from the authorities. If the legal facilities for dealing with bookmakers and other undesirable characters are insufficient, it rests with tho Government to widen its powers, but whilst the Postal Department courts revenue from bookinuking operations, r.o Inns will our efforts at suppression Ijo largely wasted. Whilo foregoing income from honourable sources) the Treasury is seeking a comparative fragment by aiding nnd abetting ii system which we are being urged to terminate. Other alterations of tho law might be recommended by us for lessening tho attractions offered by the bookmakers, but the time- seems inopportune for pressing them. Jluch criticism is heard from owners and trainers. U5 to the length of lime (hiring which horse* are kept on the course prior to n race, Tilt's is excused on the ground that the spectators desire to witness tho preliminary canter before <lecidiug Upon investment. A suggestion has been made that instead of ringing round at the starting post, horses should , parade before the stands until a few minutes of the starting time. If no valid objection is raised to this, it would certainly be valuable as providing nn additional attraction for onlookers, and wile away an interval which to many of them is apt to be wearisome. May our next meeting be under happier auspices, exempt from tho dark clouds which overshadow oven our hours of recreation, and eve July returns may we be again restored to the free and full exerciso of our surrendered privileges, rejoicing at tho triumphant conclusion of a cruel contest for the iniquities of'which our German enemies are wholly responsible."

Tho report nf the Stipendiary Stewards" Committee stated:—"Tho control and management of race, meetings by clubs shows improvement generally, and is on the up grade. Officials apparently seem desirous of more, strictly abiding by tho rules of racing, and are eager to take advantage of suggestions towards improvement iu management. Effective cleansing of Taoecourses is still retarded bjr-non-omployment of efficient racecourse detectives. In many cases tho pay offered is finite inadequate, aisd thus frequenl.lv loral and inferior persons are employed, who, however willing they may bo to carry out tho duties imposed, havo absolutely no knowledge of tho individuals with whom they should deal. Generally speaking, racing for the past season has maintained a good standard. Class has been fairly well represented, fields have increased in size. Interference in running from carelessness or otherwise has markedly diminished. It has been necessary on occasions to question tho handling of various horses, but rarely has it been found requisite to go Further, except in souio few instances when duo punishment has followed. Somo suspension and fines for infringement of rules of racing ivero enforced, but they were fewer in number than in previous years. "Wo would again most strongly urgo the advisability of all licenses being issued by tho conference. It. is again very apparent that many holding trainers' or jockeys' licenses obtain sauio only for tho purpose of freo admission to our racecourses, and being armed with «■ lioenso they easily obtain entry at most meetings to the jockeys' room ami birdcage. Tho usual long list cf jockeys licensed appears in the liacing Calendar, very many of whom, owing to lack ot patronage'or skill, arc quite unknown to ««. During tho past season many prominent horsemen have been called up for service. Wo are, however, pleased to statethat owing to the amended Tule regarding apprentices' allowance several promising young riders are coming forward. Very niaiiy persons licensed under this heading apparently lack charges, and many nre quite unknown to us. The majority of licensed trainers known to us do credit to their calling. Thn official list of registered.racing colours is getting ■ more confusing and unwieldy every season. AVe think that this would bo relieved considerably if measures wero taken to purge the list of all unused colours during, tho last two years." The following were appointed the bhpemliary Stewards' Committee for thn enI siiiu" year: Sir Geovgo Clifford, Hon. AV H Hemes, Hon. 0. Samuel, Messrs. P.' Miller, 0. S. AVatkiiis, and E. CampTho following Dates Committee was elected-.-Messrs E. W. Alison, W. K. Bidwill E. Goodbehere, P. Hunter, H. Lowry, and 0. Miller The following report by the X) inform Hurdle Committee was adopted:- llie committee has to report that all clubs have agreed to adopt the uniform hurdle, with tho exception of two clubs which stipulate that tho top rail be 9 uiehcs by II inches and not 9 inches by 2 inches. The coinmitte Tccommcnd that this variation of the top rail shall be permitted, and also that the hurdle ot the pattern submitted by Mr. W. J. Gore bo allowed where clubs desire to uso hurdles of that The Hon. J. I). Orniond moved: "That a vice-president be elected annually, in like manner as the president." Jlr. B. L. AVilliams seconded. The Hon. 0. Samuel opposed the i:<otion. The present system had nlwayj worked well, and ho could not see why it should bo altered.

Mr. J. S. M'Leod said that members of tho conference felt that Sir George Clifford was so much to the conference that it' he disappeared to-morrow thero would bo no ono to fill his place. They thought someone should be acquainting himself with the work. The proposal was the greatest compliment to Sir

George Clifford. Sir Geo'rgo Clifford said he wished to speak impersonally on the proposal. He thought that if there was a vice-presi-dent it would bo difficult to pass biin 1 over in the event of a presidential election, even though that vice-president was was iiot the man the conference desired to make president at tho time the vacancy occurred. The motion was lost. Dunediu moved:—"Tho conference shall appoint not less than four of its members annually, who, together with tho president, shall act as au executive with all the powers of tho conference excepting tho alteration or amendment of these rules, and in tho event of the president being unable to act, the executive shall have power to appoint a chairman to act in his absence." The motiun was lost. A proposal to increase tho Gsl. 71b. minimum weight to 7st. wns defeated by seventeen votes to sixteen. Tho Auckland Club moved the following:—"No trainer shall, whilst employed in training horses for payment or remuneration or upon terms, train or start in any race any horso of which he or Ills wife is owner, or in which* he or his wife has any' interest required by these rules to bo'registered. Any horse so trained or started shall be disqualified for a period of not less than twelve months."

After considerable discussion the motion was lost.

Tho following new rule was moved by tho president:—"is'o jockey shall give any information respecting a, trial, or regarding any horse he may bo engaged to ride in any race or in work, to, any person other than the owner or trainer of Iho horse."

Air. A. K. Price, Auckland, scuoivlcd Ilio motion, which \yii3 carried.

A AVanganiii proposal (o debar men who had been employed in livery stables or. training etablea from getting

a gentleman rider's certificate was strongly opposed, and was not carried. A resolution was passed taking away the power of starters to place misbehaving horses on the outside of tho field. It was considered that such horses should be placed at the rear of the field or outside a hurdle.

Tho minimum penalty for lad- acceptance was reduced from' ,£lO to' JLTi. ihe following new rule was made:— Morses, either foals or yearlings, which arc leased for their whole racing career from the breeder may be. lominatecl iu the name of a lessee, having an> interest equal to that of any joint lessee, and the fact that the breeder is named us a registered partner shall not of itself necessitate that the horse shall ba bracketed on the totalisalor with other ho:-.-es so loused l>y the same broeiUy. This exemption must, in the case <t' every horse, be separately sanctioned in v. ritiiiST by tho president." Mr. ,T. J!. L. Stanford moved a proposal to enable investors lo get hack from the totalisator money invested on any horse which broke dowii or was injured after going out to the slnrtingrpost. The idea was that Ihe money should be returnable providing the incident did not occur within five minutes nf the race. The Hon. 0. Samuel seconded, mi the wmdiMon that the limit of time. «, Ira minutes. , Tho motion was lost. It was resolved Hint Hie list of dis--Kinlificntions should include tho names of the horses known to be owned l>y the person disqualified. The contribution to the. trust funds was fixed at 10s. instead of £1. It was decided to confer with the. Trotting Association re 'the adoption of a system duplicating horses' names. At the request of the Stipendiary Stewards' Committee, the president moved: "That racecourse detectives should be appointed by tho conference." .Representatives of country clubs raised tho question of expense, other objections were made, and the proposal was heavily defeated. ' ''

A Wairavapa proposal was that, all licenses be granted by a licensing com-

niittee nf the conference, and issued b tho secretary of the conference. Th motion was lo~t by 'it votes to 11. . The execnlive was authorised to tpon up to .£IOOO oii the Sports J'rotectio League.

Sir George Clifford was re-elected pres dent, find the confe/ciicc recorded H appreciation of his service?, and c> pressed its gratiliiatioii it his a«ai consenting to oeeoine president. The. conference then ro ; .e.