RACING CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 245, 10 July 1919, Page 6

RACING CONFERENCE

PRESIDENT'S REPORT INFLUENCE OF THE BO3SMAKGR USE OF DOUBLE TOTALISATOR URGED The conference of representatives of New Zealand Jockey Clubs washeld in the Accountants' Chambers, Johnston Street, yesterday. Sir George Cilloru, Dart., president of the conference, was in llie chair. In his report, "lie pre-i-.k'iil referred tu the successful termination of the war. "All industries and pusuiU must adapt themselves to a new "outlook, and we, as guardians of the most universally healthful and useful of all sport-, aro bound to take a. cartful survey of iffc position as it resumes its former freedom from special wartime restrictions," lib said. "This conference lias cuv i-'triu'i. lo purify and elevate racing, and 1.0 purge it of every artificial adjunct unworthy of a recrcation . of which the country may lie unreservedly proud. A list of our reforms would eontJMs-t jhilarity of the Turf prior to the institution of the conference with the present siiiugency of its checks upon malfeasance, j Somelhiug may yet remain for us to i!u las fresh circumstances arise, but what we now need is the ungrudging n-ippoit of higher authorities to supplement ellorts which must have every honest man's ! sympathy. Ido not hesitate in the conviction that in 110 country is racing so well regulated—so far as our rcgu.laiiouu can be enforced—as in New Zealand; where else is the bookmaker, with his multifarious means of corruption, so hampered? Where else ii. the proprietary club, sucking from legitimate use the resources of the Turf, so entirely banned? Where else is the hidden ownership of horses, the mask oi che trickster, so completely barred? Where else is justice to all participants so freed from local influences r.nd so carefully safeguarded? Where else is there a representative system of control equipped j -.villi 1 lie requ.site autl'.crity, yet guarded by popular consent expressed by periodical ejection? We may l.e justly proud of having evolved a constitution securing such results, and may well' call upon the Government to respond by assistance in converting our ideals into practical realities. Racing is no' a-iiish amusement. Apart from its call lo all sportsmen, its'at traction lies largely lin the fact that active participation 111 it is a proffered gift of continually renewed interest and refreshment of mind tc- every member of the community. This widespread benefit justifies our claim for legal protection from abuses which ere far from inherent In ihe sport. They are blots which do not afreet vital parts, and i wish to emphasise I lay bare our sores it is to show how rcadiiy they may be healed. Onr first cause 01 uneasiness springs from the influence of the bookmaker, who, sometimes jiirtly, sometimes unjustly, is accused of inspiring malpractices. 111 his regard we have cither gone too far or not far uiough. He is banished from onr courses, and thus is beyond 'our .supervision, but is left to work his own will from dart places. We are convinced that !ik banishment was desirable;'but, if so, it follows that his operations should cease —a result only to be achieved by the action of tlio Postmaster-General and the Minister of Justice under extended statutory powers. If we invoke tlioir help it is fair that we should make clear what ovils press for remedy and what remedies we suggest'. Legal machinery for the inevitable speculation on .races in sanctioned by the Gaining Acte. We 'urge that the use of the double totaiisator be permitted upon racecourses, 'and that secretaries of racing clubs be allo.ved 10 receive investments by letter or telegram. The bookmaker at present lives chiefly by laying deceptive double bets aud restricted totaiisator odds, while the backer desirous of venturing his mite from a distance has no chance of obtaining the full and fair dividend as determined by public investments. Where speculation is legal, let it. pass through the legalised channel, which refuses credit, is incapable of conspiracy, and offers 110 social risks to the inexperienced or unwary imes'.or. Fidelity of Jockeys. "Too much has been said recently about the fidelity of certain jockejs, anil j not without apparent cause.' Even were we lo reject the .rumours, we must tcke steps to allay the suspicions. We ki:ow well that most trainers <nid jockeys aro honourable men, proud of their i.rofessmns, sensitive to their reputation, unwilling to stain (heir own characters or to betray the confidence of their employers. Still, there is ample evidence ot heavy betting 011 doubles: Trhere large sums aro at stake to be won or lost by bookmakers or by the professional backer, t>ho public riglith* conceives (nat the inducements to fraud and collusion may be irresistible. This u-tuwunliere of suspicion may be cleared partly bv the restoration of the. double totaiisator to our courses, whe.ro the very nature of its operation forbids excessive investment and where its publicity lenders Irnud perilous. Much, too, can he done by an effective and impartial supervision of the issue of trainers' am jockeys iicenses-a department n./i„M 11 -°" wl ! ose action ho weuitre 01 the Turf greatly depends. Not alone doc-s the ■ good-it ill ot our supporters demand our cliko attention to tins, problem, but tlio piotection ot the honest man's name and lame irom association with that of his unscrupulous rival is a paramount need 1 may be we to direct attemiou to the .hull's 0 Racing under which tlio entry ot n norse is deemed an underfaking to retrain Irom betting with bookmakers on such horse. This obligation is, ot course, honoured by most owners anil, indeed, cannot be disregarded bv any honourable man. It mav, however lie that some owners havo not taken the I'ulo very seriously, nor weighed either Iho injury (0 the sport, or the personal risk or any. breach of this safeguard. "11. is needless lo lay stress once more upon Ihe patriotism of racing clubs as demonstrated by their voluntary aid 111 money and services during thu war, or upon llio total taxation which they conIribuled lo the Treasury. These facts are |oo familiar to require detailed repel ition. They conslituto a solid claim upon our statesmen for- a response to our rciiuesl, for legislative assistance. •V total subscription of over .£15(1,000 l'.ir war purposes, and a total payment of luxes of some 01802,000 is 110 negligible title to their gratitude—wtiie.li might well be displayed in Ihe authorisation of an increased number of totaiisator perniils for racing aud trotting alike, \V« have to thank Messrs. .1. W. Abbott W. H. Jlidwill, E. A. Campbell, C. p!-' Skcrrell, K.C., and 0. S. Watkins for Mioir consent to act as judges of appeal i during the past year. A sadder duty I falls upon us in the expression of our j regret ut the loss of so many who havo i been at 0110 time, or another our colleagues at these conferences. The hand : of death has indeed been busy., and wo j have lost Messrs. 0. C. Cooper, E. J. Gothard, 11'.' I'. Bunny, ,1. Latham, C. \V. Kcid, in addition 'to Mr. D. Buickj whose connection with raciilg was an example of an unlarnished record, and Mr. W. 11. llurlgill, iu whom we have i lost ('he most accomplished judge who ' ever decided a finish on our courses and ; whose sudden death was a blow to every racegoer, aud to the multitude of his persoual frionds. In contusion, at the risk of repetition, 1. would impress upon the conference that our energies should lie directed first, last, and all tho time to tlm suppression of practices disapproved by us, and affording our enemies a standpoint of attack. The nation as a whole will be quick to realise that mil- pastime provides relaxation and entertainment of a nature innoenou* to all who do luyc pursue it to excess, and that our precautions successfully cope with any general lni.-use of it. Tho profes- j sional gambler, whether layer or laker ; of odds, is not wanted in our ranks, I and for our own well-being »e desire 1 his path, through our restrictions and j those of the. law, lo be as thorny as it can be made, fortunately unhampered.! by vested interests and other difficulties i almost insuperable elsewhere, let us with 1 good heart, so our defences as i to render the institution entrusted lo our vigilance as free from suspicion or criticism as may be humanly practicable." The statement of receipts and expenditure showed that there was a credit balance of ,CHB 2s. 2d. Mr. Annand M'Kellar was reapnointed auditor of tho conference.

Stipendiary Stewards' Report. The report of the Stipendiary Stewards' Committee for the 1318-19 racing year stated that with regard to control and management of race meetings, although an improvement was bping shown in some instances, the standard required had not yet been tally attained (hiring the past season. Better control should bo enforced by a stricter supervision of birdcage privileges, exclusion of all persons, including jockeys and (miners no( being engaged at a meeting, from both jockeys' room and birdcage, and by keener oversight of tickets issued to horse attendants and others. A class of racecourse habitue that was decidedly a menace (o racing and one that all clubs should endeavour to locate, and exclude from their courses, were the individuals who were on all courses actiug more or less openly as bookmakers' agents. Sonic of such obtain all racecourse privileges,, aiid consequently' have access to jockeys on the course, as well as to owners, trainers, and others, and 110 doubt as well as corrupting racing, diver; laree sums of money from the tolalisator. 11 was noticeable that the provided ambulance and first-aid appliances were in many eases obsolete, and in some instances finite inadequate on many racecourse.?, not even excluding some metropolitan chilis. The committee recommended that steps he taken In adopt a uniform style of starting gate: some of (he barriers now in use constituted a grave danger to boili rider and horse. Unreasonable and nr.* necessarv deiav was incessantly cnii«ea at the starting post by unruly horses, and starters should be directed to strictly enforce the provisions of Rule 6, Part 25, Rules of, Racing, by placing such horses in the rear of the field. Racing clubs should rigidly refuse the, entry ol horses known to be vicious or unruly at the post. The appointment, of Government inspectors lo totahsators had, in the committee's opinion, had a beneficial effect, given more confidence U. the public, and was a considerable help to racing clubs. j The report was adopted. Upon tiio recommendation of the committee. the conference decided to send a circular to all clubs, urging that all people, other than owners and trainers, be refused admission to the birdcage enclosure. It was pointed out that it was verv desirable to slop overcrowding of birdcages, and that steps such as mentioned above should be taken to overcome the nuisance. _ The folk wing ivfre reappointed the Stipendiary Stewards' Committee:—Sir George Clifford, Bart., Hon. E. Milchelson. Hon. 0. Samuel, M.L.C., Messrs. W. 13. Bidwill, E. A. Campbell, P. Miller, and 0. S. Watkins. , The Dates Committee was appointed as follows Messrs. W. E. Bidwill, P. Hunter, 11.. Lowry, P. Miller, and Hon. E. Mitehelson. Marlborough Attached to Wellington. Mr. H. D. Vavasour (Marlborough Racing Club) niovc-d that tho provincial district of Marlborough should be included m (ho district controlled by the Wellington Racing Club.

-Mr. Vavasour said that, there were geogiuphio.il reasons why the suggestion should be approved. It took only a few hours to come lo Wellington from Marlborough, whereas it took ruich longer (o get to Canterbury, to which Marlborough was at present attached. The motion was carried unanimously. On behalf of the Wnnjanui District Clubs (Ihngitikei Hunt Club), Mr., J. H. Perrett proposed that the representatives of each district club should be.'elected every second year by the committees of I he tolalisator clubs in the metropolitan district in the month of May. All clubs wilh a totnlisator permit should be entitled to vote whether they raced during the season on which the election was held or not. »

Tlio motion was carried. Tho Hamilton llaoing Club put forward a suggestion that 110 person who was the paid official of nny club should be dieible for election as a (Meirat? to the district committee, but on boin? put jo the. vote the proration was lo=t, as it failed to srcure the smiport of the requisite twothirds majority. It wa<t nroposed by the Canterbury Jockey Clii'b that Rule VT should be amended by the addition of the following nrovkion'"The nrogramme of every meeting from September 1 to June fi, inclusive, shall include two flat races ner diem of not less (ban one mile. Hie nr-mramnie of cverv niectinpr from June 7 to August .11, inclusive, shall include at lea*t one Maiden, Hack, or Hunters Steeplechase, and if such programme includes one or more ilat race*, there shall be one flat race of not less than one mile and a quarter." The amendment was lost.

Winter Meeting Programmes. Mr. T. E. TJnton, Canterbury District Clubs (South), ~ proposed . that the proRrnjumcp for winter meetings should not include more than one nice on cach day, for horses three years old and upwards, of a less distance than six furlongs. The motion was adopted. The conference decided that the term "joint interest" should mean and include every partnership or joint interest in, ct in tiie running of a horse above the age. of one vear, and every lease of, or instrument by way of security over, any such horse," "except that an agreement by nn owner to pay to his trainer a per ; centage not exceeding ten ner cent, ot the winnings in stakes of his horse or hor=°s shall not be considered to constitute a 'joint interest."' At the requi'st of the Stipendiary Stewards' Committee it was resolved that any jockey, after weighing in, who neglects'to return the colours to the owner or trainer of the horse lie mav have ridden shall bo iined 1 sov. by the stewards of the club to whom such joekev has been reported. The Stipendiary Stewards' Committee also recommended, and it was decided, to adopt the following new rule:—"All colours must be clean and in proper condition; for a breach of this rule a fine not exceeding 2 sovs, may bo imposed by the clerk of the scales."

The Egmont Racing Club proposed, and it was agreed, that no horse shall start in any hack flat race which has at any time prior to the time of entry won a race of the value of ,£250 to the winner, or races of the aggregate value of iCiiOO to the winner, nor in any hack hurdle race or steeplechase, which' has at any time prior to the time of entry won ii rave of the value of ,£250 to the winner, or races of the aggregate value of ,£SOO to the winner, provided 'hat in calculating such values any moneys payable 'by reason only of no other horse winning second or third money shall be excluded. The amount won by any horse in flat races, hurdle races, or steeplechases respectively, shall be estimated separately, and shall not debar such horse from entry except in the special class of race in which he has won the amount;.

With regard lo apprentices it was decided that all licensed apprentices who have not ridden 15 winners at meetings where the totalizator is used, shall be permitted to clnim a olb.j allowance in all selling races, and in all handicaps of the value of not more than 150 sovs. to the winner, always provided that no horse shall carry a less weight than Gst. i11).,.0r !)st., or !)st. 71b., when these are the minimum weights nerniitted wider Rules 1 and 2 of Part XIX of the Rules of Racing. Tlio president moved, and it was decided, that 110 rider in a race, other than a. point-to-point steeplechase, shall be weighed out unless he is provided with a skull cap. The Totalisator. It was agreed Hint the following now rule should be added to Part XXX of the Rulm of Racing'"Should any club fail to bracket horses liable under, these ru.'cs to be bracketed prior to the opening of the totalisator upon any race, such horses shall not be bracketed for such race, but any loss which may accrue to any person due to the failure to 'bracket such horses shall bo made good by the club." In regard lo totalisator tickets, (he president moved that every ticket should bear the name of tho proprietor of the totalisator, and the number of the horse on llm race card, the number of the race in ro'pect of which it was issued, •for which day of the race meeting." Tho addition of tho words "and for which day of tho race mooting," said Sir Georgo Clifford, had been suggested by Iho Department. It was probably an additional safeguard, and would involvo 110 additional difficulty ill tlio working of tho totalisator. The addition of tho words quoted was approved, 1