SPORT OF TROTTING

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 250, 10 July 1918, Page 8

SPORT OF TROTTING

N.Z, ASSOCIATION THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE - The New Zealand Trotting Conference was held in AVellington yesterday. Mr. John liowe (Onehunga) presided. f Addressing tho conference Mr. Rowo _ •aid that an important matter to which he desired to draw attention was the question of a uniform syatem of start- p ing. He had no hesitation in saying [hat the conference should definitely settle it. There was someone other than the owner to bo considered; there was . tho public. "Nothing (he continued) is ii more annoying to the onlooker, whether c ' lie be the bncker of a horso or not, to lind that after it has raced into a leading position it has been called off for ~ starting before time. This with time starting unfortunately occurs frequently, jnd causes a great deal of disappointment. . Then again we have tho false starts, whereas with the yards system Mid a proper barrier, every horse has r the same chancc, and there is no calling off, and the public get a fair start. Admitting that the owner is deserving }f every consideration, and aftor watchng the starting by the different clubs, I am dccidcdly in favour of the yards system, as I think by that means every owner receives equal consideration. Who is the trainer? is a question that has frequently been asked. A case canio under my notice '"where an owner who hnd been training his horse in anticipation of ft racs nominated it, and at the samo time gave the name of another person as the trainer. To my surprise it has bccomo the practice for quite a number of owners to do this.. In addition to feeding and generally looking after their horses they train them, yet do not trouble to obtain _ tlio necessary license. 'This is the 'Position up to within a week or two of the race meeting, when the services of a professional trainer are called in. He takes over the horse in his professional stable, aud puts on the filial ptepaiation, and no doubt gives the owner sundry .advice. What constitutes a trainer. The man who is feeding and looking after tho horse during tho year, or the professional man who is called m during tho last two or three weeks and up to , the day of racing? The rules shtmld certainly make it clear that training a horse does not mean giving the horse a few final spins before a meeting. "During the course of my address to von a year ago I commented favourably upon the work of the gentlemen selected by your committee lo act as stipendiary stewards. 'Tho general excellence ■ of their efforts during the past two years has clearly justified the sanguine expectations of those who advocated their appointment, and 1 feel confident that I am voicing the opinion ot my fellow delegates when I say that (lie work of our stipendiaries has materially agisted the great advancement which trotting has undoubtedly made diirinfi tiie period named. Pacing officials' all over the Dominion have repeatedly eulogised tho conduct of our officials, and cheerfully recognised Ihe value of then presence at race meetings. Onneis, trainers, and drivers undoubtedly appreciate the innovation, whilst they and the people who supply the sinews ot war recognise that they will all get a squaie deal' from your representatives. '"There was, as you know, a reduction bv one-third of the 50 days of racing, leaving 311 determined by the tiovernment. It wnuid thereloro scarcely bo fair to make a comparison with tho figures of last year, but 'the average amount of stakes for each day last season was Xl'2l"i, whereas this season it was XIM7, with which no doubt the compel in" owners were much plcastd, in addition to what they received from the racing clubs, which also provided substantial prize money for trotting liorseowners." „ , 'The general business of the day i\as a number of amendments to rules, parliculars of which have been published. ■\lnoi.g the decisions was a resolution leaving the power to appoint judges in the hands ef Ihe president instead ot delegating the power to Hie executive. It was resolved to cast on owners the responsibility of notifying handicaypers of the performances ot horses. The question of whether starting should be bv 'occouds or by yards was considered, and it was decided to leave ever lot a year the responsibility or coming to a decision. „ , ~ The South AVairarapa Club proposed Ihe following new rule, which was carried:-" I hal Ihe Provident I'lind leo of XI must bo paid on every horse direct (o the New Zealand Trotting Association Wore such horse shall be eligible (o be nominated lor any trotting tace run under the N.Z. Hales ol • l ™ l ! ll 'K '» Ihe Dominion, and any owner nonnnatin„ a horse for which the Provident hum ion lnirt not been yaul slwll lui -" Uii for CVM'V oiU'HCe.' , Conference decided"That it be a rec.oiumomlulio'.i lo the incoming to review Ihe permits reduced uudei v. i einidifions. and it a reduction be neee - sarv for T.l'iO, liie reduction be a uir proportion from one day permits, Iwodav permits, and more; The following Wctport motion was defealed —"That Ihe Wrstpoi'L rotting Club be granted December 'Ji mil oil ,vl,ii-li 111 race lor season Wlb-19, ,uul Hint one day be iaken from Ashburton; also I hat in future during the continuance ol' the war W'eslporl and Ashburlon race alternately, two days and one d«v resperlivelv, year and year .bout The election of officers resulted a» follows President. Mr. Ttowe linnga); vice-president Mi. W- J .v T. ' executive, Messrs. L lioberts, AlacK.iv, and C. M- Olivier. ■