RACING CONFERENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 162, 20 July 1901, Page 3

RACING CONFERENCE.

[By Telegraph Press Association.] Wellington, last night. Mr Bidweli, of the Wairarapa County Club, moved that when the official calen. dar is fixed by the Conference, the scale of charges for advertising should be fixed by arrangement between the Conference and publishers of the official calendar. He stated that the Wairarapa County clubs felt that the charges xvere excessive, and out of proportion to the benefits received. Tho Chairman stated that the Referee was appointed for one year. It was for the Conference to make fresh arrangements. Mr Samuel recognised tho services of tlie official calendar, but there was, he said, throughout the North'lsland a strong feeling that the clubs did not receive a beneficial return from the Referee. The North Island clubs w'ere obliged to advertise in their own papers as well. Mr McLean said tho proposal to issue their own calendar was a good one. He recommended that tho chairman interview the proprietors of the Jieferoe, and ndeavor to get their charges altered. This recommendation was adopted, except that the official calendar will be issued , as usual. I Mr Green (Otago country club) moved ( that tho question of country delegates’ ] expenses be decided by tlie Conference. t It was agreed that the Metropolitan j Clubs can collect expenses and refuse j to pass any programme till they are V paid.

The Committee appointed to consider tho question of gentlemen riders' fees drew up tlie following proposals : That tlie fee for licensed gentlemen riders bo XI, and that tho fees received be voted to a welter fiat race .’for gentlemen ridors only, at the winter meeting of Metropolitan Clubs. This xvas agreed to. Mr Baldwin's resolution in favor of instituting class handicaps was withdrawn. Mr Baldwin’s resolution lor appointing stipendiary stewards led to a long discussion. .Most of tlie delegates who spoke were in favor of the proposal, though some questioned whether suitable men c-ould lie found, and others thought tlie expense would be too heavy. It was finally agreed that tho com-

mittee appointed to consider tlie distribution of tlie jockeys and trainers’ fund should go into tho proposal with Mr Baldwin. Mr Elliott was granted fifty guineas in connection with his claim in preparing tlie stud book. A committee appointed to consider tho conditions of the Auckland Racing Club’s Century Stakes reported that in thoir 1 opinion tlie advertisement in tlie hook 1 programme of the Auckland Racing Club under rule 32a must he considered void, 1 hut that an advertisement in tlie Official 1 Calendar must ho regarded as constituting ' ft contract betwemi club and owners c entering horses. Under tlie circumstances 1 tlie committee unanimously considered c that the proper allowance to geldings in s tlie Century Stakes of 1902 will ho Jib. 11

A report was adopted in connection with pony racing. The Chairman said that from the remarks of Sir Joseph Ward it was obvious that something must he dono to meet the difficulty which had arisen. They had permitted trotting at Hat race meetings, and must consider the question of pony racing at trotting meetings. i t was resolved that the Conference, to reduce the difficulty existing in relation to pony racing in trotting programmes, recommends the admission of their own motion by the .Metropolitan Clubs of all disqualifications which may he incurred in relation thereto, always provided that 11 10 rsoos arc run under the rules of racing, that nut more than two races he included in any day’s racing, and that the programmes bo submitted for the approval of Metropolitan Club in the sumo way that trotting races on racing programmes are subjected to the approval of trotting authorities.

The oommitteo appointed to consider tlie question of dates and permits reported as follows: That taking the ollicial lists supplied, they recommend that the number of permits in respect to metropolitan districts lie the same as last year. Applications of Wuikouuiti Racing Club, Waiapu Racing Club, Waverlcy-Waitotara Racing Cluli, and Wiuton Racing Club were not granted. Extra permits applied for by the Avondalo, Foxton, and Wairarapa racing dubs wore not granted, if permits are available, flic committee recommended that they he granted in the following order : Waverlcy - Waitotara, Cheviot, Avondale, and Wairarapa. All applications for registration were granted, excepting the Greytown Racing and Trotting Club. Tlie dates submitted to the Conference were approved, with the following exceptions: —Dunedin J.C., granted, November 28 and JO, or December ‘2O and 28 for spring meeting; Palmerston South Racing Club, granted, January 1 ; To Aroha J.C., February 10 and 17 ; Dunedin J.C., May 21 and 21 ; Egmont U.C., May 7 and 8; Napier Park Club, July 2 and 1. Wcsthmd and Southland Racing Clubs wero asked to select dates, to bo approved by the Chairman. On the motion of Mr Samuel, seconded by Mr Friedlander, Sir Geo. Clifford was rc-clected Chairman for tlie ensuing year. Several delegates paid high compliments to the Chairman for the adtnirablo manner in which he had tilled tho

position. This concluded the business of the Conference.