CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1803, 1 December 1879, Page 3

CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB.

The half-yearly general meeting of the members of the Canterbury Jockey Club was held at the Commercial Hotel on Saturday. Present —Hon. W. Robinson, Messrs Gresson, Stead, Birch, Egan, Garforth, Millett, Griffith, Frankish. In the absence of Mr H. P. Lance the chairman of the club, Mr G. G. Stead, was voted to the chair. Major Lean attended as a deputation from the Volunteers to request the club to postpone their race meeting from Monday and Tuesday until Tuesday and Wednesday. There would be a very large attendance of the Yolunteers, and the review would be held on the race conrse, and the Yolunteers would be very willing to arrange so that the club would receive a portion of the gate money. The Yolunteers could not alter their date from Easter Monday. Mr Stead pointed out that Easter Monday, being a popular holiday, the club desired to have this as well as any one else. Major Lean said that what was wanted by the Yolunteers was the use of the enclosure for the review. Mr Stead said that the course had cost a great deal of money, and he felt sure the club would not care about letting any damage being done. Major Lean said he would undertake to guarantee that no guns or horses would be allowed to cross the running ground. There would be a very large number of Volunteers present, and it would be a very great pity to divide the holiday. Major Lean having withdrawn, The meeting discussed the matter at some length.

Mr Stead read a letter from the secretary of the Catholic Sunday school treat committee asking for the use of the race course for a treat to the children on Boxing-day. Mr Birch moved—" That the request of the deputation of Volunteers, together with that of the secretary of the Catholic Sunday school treat committee be referred to the committee of the C.J.0."

Dr Turnbull seconded the motion, which waa agreed to. Mr Egan said he desired to explain a circumstance which had occurred in connection with the last meeting of the Grand National Steeplechase Club, when members were prevented from going on the course with their medals. He regretted that this should be so, as it was entirely an oversight on his part. As he had not been at a meeting of the club since he had had no opportunity to explain the matter. Mr Birch pointed out that members of the C.J.O. were entitled to go at any time during the current year on to all parts cf the course. Mr Stead desired to call Mr Egan's attention to the fact that the Jockey Club had issued subscription tickets at £5 sa, which entitled the holder to admission to the course and stand during tic whole racing year. Mr Qresson and Dr. Prankish spoke strongly against the members of the Jockey Club and the holders of subscribers' tickets being excluded when the O J.O. gave the Steeplechaso Club the free use of the stands and course."

Mr Egan said he would move—" That the C.J.O. grant to the N.Z. Grand National Steeplechase Club the free use of the course and stands with power to charge all persons for admission, excepting the holders of medals on the understanding that the course and stands be loft in the same order and. condition as they were found in." Dr. Erankißh and Mr Birch stated that while perfectly willing to give a subscription towards the Grand National Steeplechase they would not give up their privileges as members of the C.J.O. Hon. W. Robinson said that the C J.O. could not give the course on the terms asked for, as they had really entered into a contract with members of the C. J.O. and the ticket holders which could not be abrogated. Mr Egan said that the meeting cost a great deal of money, and he felt that if the resolution waß refused the Steeplechase Club weuld probably not hold their meeting on the Christchurch course.

Mr Griffith would second the motion pro forma to raise a discussion. The chairman said that it must be clearly understood that the C. J. O. had really no option in the matter. The tickets had been issued to members and to subscribers under certain conditions, which could not be abrogated. Dr. Prankish hoped Mr Egan would amend his motion so as to accept the use of the course, with the privileges attached thereto as to members and subscribers' tickets.

Mr Egan had no alternative, as he had been instructed by his committee to bring forward the motion. After seme discussion the resolution was withdrawn by Mr Egan. A letter was read from Mr J. Wilkie, the secretary of the Ashburton Racing Club forwarding the protest ogainst Orange Peel at the late Ashburton meeting. The owner had made an error in fcho age of the horse when nominating him. The race card was made out on the nomination paper, but notice was posted before the race that Orange Peel was six years old, and he was weighed out and in at six-year-old weights. The Ashburton Club referred this question to the C.J.O. for their consideration as to whether the horse was disqualified. On the motion of Dr. Frankish the matter was referred to the committee of the club. Mr Stead moved the resolution which he had given notice of at a former meeting as follows :—" No trainer shall engage any lad or other stable servant without previously referring to his last employer and receiving a satisfactory reply in writing. Any trainer infringing this rule and continuing to employ such boy after notice has been served on him by the Secretary of the C.J.0., shall not be allowed to train or run horses where the •C.J.O. rules are in force, and any lad leaving his master before the terms of his engagement are complete, shall bo disqualified from riding in any race. Any boy prevented from obtaining employment by . this rule shall have the right of appeal to the committee of the C. J.O. or the stewards of any rue 3 meeting under the O. J.O. rules."

Dr. Frankish seconded the mo' ion, whioh was carried by four to three. Mr Birch brought under tho notice of the meeting the very unsatisfactory manner in! which the bar at the grand stand was con-

ducted at the last meeting. The attendance was very bad indeed. The Chairman pointed out the very great difficulty which existed to get any one to cater for the grand stand bar. He would, however, bring the matter before the committee. The matter of drawing up the Autumn programme was referred to the committee. Dr. Prankish expressing an opinion that after the exhibition they had at the Spring meeting the sooner the jumping races were expunged from the 'programme of their flat races the better.

Mr Egan also endorsed the striking out of the hurdle and steepleohase events from the Spring programme, and putting them into the Autumn programme. Dr. Prankish suggested that if jumping races were retained the events should be for gentlemen riders only. He would suggest that a Nursery Handicap should be put in the second day's racing. After some further discussion, the meeting adjourned.