RACING CONFERENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 161, 19 July 1901, Page 1

RACING CONFERENCE.

[By Telegraph—Press Association.]

Wellington, last night. Tbe Racing Conference opened to-day. The Chairman, in his report, stated that the season drawing to a close gave many evidences of the increasing popularity of the sport, and of the determination of the racing authorities to improve it by the suppression of abuses. Their efforts had been generally conducive to the purity of the turf. The Conference had issuod a stud book, which account showed a debit balance of £2O, as against stock in hand valued at £350. With the exception of one club in Auckland, two in Canterbury, and three in Otago, there had been a total abolition of tbe five per cent, deduction from stakes. The narrow escape of tho perpetrators of the Ethel frauds from criminal punishment seems to have ended such attempts in this colony, but a renewal in Australia of similar operations shows how completely justified the Conference was in instituting the prosecution. Fie warned horse-owners of tho dangers of negligence in complying with the rules relating to registration of partnerships. During the year sixty-two clubs increased their totalisator business, and 18 had fallen off. In connection with the distribution of stakes of clubs mentioned last year, Fahiatua, Stratford, Riverton, Foxton, and, pre-eminently, Avondalo substantially increased their prizes. Patea also did so, but is now required, under Rule 7, to make further additions. The Takapuna and Marion clubs, as hereto-

fore, were conspicuous for want of liberality. The report and balance-sheet for tho Conference for the year ended July Bth last, showing a credit balance of £124 10s, was adoptod. Mr Friedlander gave notice of motion for a committee, consisting of one dolegato from each metropolitan club, with tho Chairman of the Conference as convonor and a member of the committee ex officio, be sot up to consider the disposal of the funds standing to the credit of tho Trainers and Jockeys’ Provident Fund. A petition was received from a large number of horse trainers, asking for better concessions for travelling on Government lines. The petitioners asked that instead of the present rates, they should bo charged half fares each way when travelling to race meetings. Tho Conference decided to lay the matter before the Minister of Railways. W. H. Fergus, an injured jockey, applied

for compensation. Mr Petrie explained that the applicant was injured two years ago, when the Nelson Club was a Metropolitan Club. The Greymouth Jockey Club had beon unable to find out what had become of the Nelson Club’s distressed jockeys’ fund. The matter was referred to the Nelson Jockey Club’s delegate for information. Consideration of dates and totalisator permits submitted by clubs for meetings during the forthcoming season was submitteci to the following committee to report on: Messrs Allison, Friedlander, McVay, Miller, and Nolan. The Taranaki Jockey Club’s proposal to set up a committee to be appointed for tho purpose of preparing rules of racing was lost. Tho proposal of tho Taranaki Club that all races other than handicaps shall be considered weight-for-age events was withdrawn, as was the same club’s definition of “ club.”

Tho Otago country clubs’ proposal to reduce the stake limit from £l5O to £l2O per day was withdrawn. The Otago country clubs proposed a further amendment that clubs should bo allowod to give £3O of their stakes in trotting events. Tho amendment was negatived. The Wellington Racing Club proposed an addition to Rulo 13, giving stewards the power to review the running of a horse 14 days prior or subsequent to any meeting being held. The motion was withdrawn.

On behalf of the Taranaki country clubs, Mr Nolan moved that the minimum weight bo altered from 6st 71b to 7st. Mr Bidwell stated the 7st minimum had been tried by the Wairarapa Racing Club, and it was found that good horses were overweighted. The amendment was negatived. Mr McLean moved the Dunedin Jockey Club’s motion that the season for welter weights in flat races bo altered from Juno 30th to September. The amendment was negatived. The Auckland Racing Club asked that the gelding allowance bo increased from 31b to 51b. A committee was appointed to deal with the matter. The Taranaki Jockey Club’s motion that no clubs deduct five per cent, from the stakes was objected to by Mr McLean. The Chairman expressed the opinion that so long as the club gave the amount of stakes in accordance with the rules the club could deduct more than five per cent. The amendment was negatived. The Wanganui Country Clubs moved that the amount to be won by hacks be-

fore being debarred from competing in such races be increased from 150 to 250 sovs. When the rule was passed stakes were less than at present. The motion was supported, but the proposal was negatived. An addition to rule 51, clause 1, moved by the Chairman, providing that the name proposed for any horse must be registered with the Secretary of a Racing Club, was carried without discussion. The Wellington Racing Club moved to add to rule 59a that no assumed name shall bo registered for any partnership or association of owners, The Chairman thought the amendment a desirable one, and it was agreed to. The Conference agreed that the Chairman’s ruling that all horses in which one owner was interested should be bracketed in the tote, be added to the report of the proceedings of the Conference, and circulated among clubs.

The Taranaki Jockey Club moved to amend Rule 62 to read “ Stewards may prevent a horso from starting if all fees are not paid.” The Taranaki Jockey Club’s amendments to Rules 79 and 79a were withdrawn. The Wellington Racing Club’s motion to add the words, '■ At time when the horses pass the winning post,” was considered unnecessary, and negatived. Tho Wairarapa Country Clubs’ motion that horses must be ridden out whether they have a reasonable chance of winning or not, was negatived. The Wairarapa country clubs motion to strike out clause 3 of rule 142, which debars a jockey from being owner, part owner, or lessee of any racehorse in training, was negatived. A motion by the Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay Clubs io amend rule 142, clause 3, to strike out the word “ owned,” was agreed to.

The Taranaki Jockey Club’s motion to removo the registration of apprentices from the office of tho Conference to Jockey Clubs, was negatived.

A proposed amendment to rule 152, making it compulsory for an owner to be fined for not running his horse in the colors named at the time of entry, was negatived. The Wanganui country clubs moved that the fee of £1 charged for gentlemen riders’ certificates be abolished. The Chan-man supported the amendment. Mr Ormond suggested a postponement, which was agreed to. Captain Russell moved an amendment to Rule 156, that no hurdle race shall be under a mile and three-quarters. The amendment was negatived.