SPORT OF TROTTING

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 8, 10 July 1923, Page 8

SPORT OF TROTTING

NEW ZEALAND CLUBS

THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE

The annual conference of representatives of New Zealand Trotting Clubs opened in the Accountants' Chambers this niorning.

( In the absence of the president (Mr. H. F. Nicoll, Ashburton), who is in England, the vice-president (Mr. John Rowe, Auckland) occupied the chair. The delegates present were: Messrs. A. A. Forbes (Ashburton T.C.), R. Wallace (Canterbury Park T.C.), B. S. Irwin (Forbury Park T.C.), F. Young (Gore T.C.), D. H. Roberts (Greymouth T.C.), W. H. St-apleton (Mangahua T.C.). W. T. Hazlett (Kaikoura T.C., S. M'llroy (Manawatu T.C); E.Evans (Marlborough T.C), F. GV Edwards (Nelson T.C), B. J.-M'Kenna'(New Brighton T.C), C. M. Ollivier (N.Z. Metropolitan T.C), P. Selig (N.Z. Trotting Association), M. J. Hannon (Oamaru T. 0.), H. R. Mackenzie (Otahuhu T.C).W.Armstrong (South Wairarapa T.C), H. H. Fraser (Timara T.C), B. M'Carthy (Waimate Plains T.C), A. J. Smith (Waikato T.C), L. Cohen (Wanganui T.C), J. Sharpe (Wellington F.C), D. 'J. Evans (Westland T.C), E. T. Glee (Westport T.C.), Sir Jamas Carroll (Poverty Bay). The chairman read a letter.from the president covering the salient items of interest in the sport for-the year. The president (Mr. H. F. Nicholl), who left for England in June,., in advising the conference of his inability to fill the chair, staled that he viewed with a good deal of pleasure the continued steady advance of the sport in New Zealand, _ and the brighter outlook in the j promise of the gaming legislation to be j introduced .by the Government during j this session. The clubs had.been both j patient. and long-suffering tinder most i adverse conditions, and with a more f sympathetic atmosphere surrounding ■ them,-they would be able to offer fur- j ther encouragement to the importation ! and breeding of high-class horaes, thus i enhancing the value of the sport to the | nation, and increasing the. interest of | the public in the race meetings. He ■ would like to comment upon the work i of the racecourse inspectors. As a I member of the joint executive committee of the Racing and Trotting Confer-, ences, he had had exceptional ; opportunities to mark their work during: the past two years, and their ability.and tact in weeding out undesirables .and in the unobtrusive supervision of the racecourses are worthy of the highest.praise. Their j appointment, has .proved of great value ; to both racing and trotting, and in the ■ administration of their duties they have ! proved themselves to. be both vigilant and efficient. There had been a certain amount of criticism regarding handi- • capping lately, but as the appointment • of handicappers was under the control of ,the individual-clubs, if there was anyserious defect in the adjustment or in system as -at present obtaining, it was always in the hands of. club members to make alterations. The stipendiary ■stewards, apparently still were' not working to the satisfaction of some clubs, but' the executive was reporting ! upon this matter. Stipendiary stewards, \ as a system, had como to stay. I Following this,, the vice-president ■ stated . that unquestionably high-class trottins continued to be appreciated by the public, as.was.evidenced by the large . attendance at'meetings, and life desired to j sincerely congratulate everyone con- j nected with the sport upon the eminence lit had attained, despite, somewhat diffi- . cult financial conditions. The executive | had clearly recognised that many clubs, i especially the smaller ones, had been severely financially handicapped during the past few years—whilst many noni totalisator clubs had also, found it difficult' to carry on their meetings. The financial strain had also been materially felt by owners, and overwhelming taxation and transit charges had proved far too heavy a burden. The executive had made every endeavour to improve mat- ; ters' in this direction, and he felt assured J that they would cordially endorse the hope that what had been done would result in a material reduction of. taxation and in the cost of the transit of horses. The carriage of horses had also been keenly watched by the members of the Owners' and Breeders' Association, and their combined^efforts would .not be fruitless. It was necessary for him to reiterate the attempt made last year to secure increased trotting permits.' They were all familiar with the subject. The great and continued support accorded to trotting in-all parts of the country justified them in again approaching Parliamentary friends on the matter, and he was hopeful that this year's request would be ; granted. Should his hope be fulfilled,, lie earnestly desired to .impress upon i them how necessary it was that they \ must be absolutely, united regarding the j allocation of these permits. " I feel positive that the gentlemen comprising your executive can be implicitly trusted to equitably carry.out the work. They are necessarily in close touch with the position, and their carefully considered decisions ought to prove satisfactory. You are doubtless aware that I have always bean a great- admirer of the squaregaited horse. Many-clubs have materially encouraged the unhoppied trotter, and . I should like to suggest that still greater encouragement should be offered to tho owners of this class of horse. It is undoubtedly tru 0 that racegoers admire exhibitions of great speod (especially when a pacer like Happy Voyage registered such fine performances at NewBrighton and Auckland), but I venture to assert that the majority of our patrons ' prefer watching the straight-out trotter, though I fully recognise how much the fast pacer has done to build up the sport. Though each year sees the retirement of a number of horses,, our. lists of nominations., clearly show that the.leeway is mo'ro than balanced by the huge entries received; as a, matter of fact, I submit that the'time has arrived, when something must be done to cope with large fields. Practically not one horse in such big fields 13 offered a: fair chance. No downer -with a.modicum of common:sense cftii support his horse with any confidence, and the same remark applies with oi(ual force to the general supporter of tho sport. Last year I mentioned that division racing had', been 1 suggested as n, euro for the large" field disease, but under the existing law this solution of tho difficulty is not debatable. After mature consideration, and after discussing tho matter with a number of prominent sportsmen, I hav e come to the conclusion that limits must be materially reduced if any lasting improvement iii to ho effected. It is impossible to ruco docently under such conditions, and I sincerely trust that clubs will cut down their limits, and so endeavour to secure better and more equitablo contests. . I desire to congratulate licensed ridors arid drivers on their neat appearance and general good conduct. TC is unfortunately true that a few of their number have not exactly been presented witli bouquets during the year, but on the whole they are efficient and a credit to tha sport. I am afraid, however, that, possibly owing to a mistaken sense of loyalty, they do not always assist stewards in their efforts to discover and, if necessary, punish offenders; Strongly worded accusations and recTJm.inationjß

dispensed in the rooms set aside for the use of licensed men are vicious and useless, and usually lead to the ' I'll remember you' policy, which simply perpetuates the trouble. Whilst I can un-. derstand, if I cannot quite appreciate, this protective attitude to their fellows, 1 hope that any person feeling aggrieved will give officials an opportunity to consider any complaint, instead of indulging in unseemly wrangles with each other. In this- connection I should like to say that aggrieved owners could often assist the stewards, but do not do so. Our stipendiary stewards have proved themselvus to be capable, tactful officials of undoubted integrity, but neither they nor tho honorary stewards can see everything, and I sincerely trust' that in future everybody will combine in their efforts to perpetuate the good worlr. already accomplished." The report and balance-sheet were adopted.

A number of letters" were read from clubs expressing satisfaction with the conduct of the stipendiary stewards. A special report was also read declaring that the present system was an undoubted success. The report was adopted. The conference also passed the annual report of the Provident Fund Mr. B. J. M'Kenna (New Brighton* moved that no member of the association shall be eligible to be elected a representative to act at the conference ur to act as a substitute for a representative deleting in the case of rule 13 the exception in the case of the president of the association.

The motion was lost on the voices. An amendment to rule 95 was moved by the acting-president, and adopted dec lanng that: ■• A club, by its W wit-tee, or failing action by its committee, then by its stewards, shall for each racing year, or at its discretion, for each race meeting, appoint a judicial com-

On the motion of the Westland Club a new rule was added-118. "That in the case of clubs holding a one-day meeting only, horses entered at the meeting may be nominated for a higher class at such meeting, provided that such horses have put-up a placed performance at any other meeting named on such conditions after the date on which nominations have closed, and provided also that such renominations be made at any time up to three hours immediately prior to the declaration of handicaps." An addition to rule 184 was carried providing that every'entry "shall state the registered colours of ■ the owner of such horse."

A new- section to rulo 184 was proposed by Mr. Fraser (Timaru T.C.) : "That all maiden horses without a record be placed on the same mark." The motion was lost.

The conference, on the motion of Mr. Frnaer (Timarn T.C), adopted an addition to rule 228: "Where a rider or driver is engaged to ride or drive in any race who is not the trainer of the horse in such race, he shall not be permitted to start unless the amount of his minimum fee as for ,a losing mount in the race has been previously deposited with the secretary or clerk of scales, or other official appointed by the stewards for that purpose."

(Proceeding.)