CONTROL OF RACING.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 31 December 1912, Page 3

CONTROL OF RACING.

It cannot be said that the committee entrusted with the selection has displayed any violent hurry over the task. Possibly the delay has been partly caused by indulgence in the craze for importing men from other lands to teach us our business, since two of the three (including the chief steward) ar6 from Australia. However, the main thing is that at last an attempt is to be made to check practises which have been steadily bringing horse-racing in New Zealand into serious disrepute, That is a very mild way of putting it; it would probably be more to the point to say that the conduct of some race meetings has been nothing less than a scandal, and a disgrace to all concerned. There may not bo an organised jockey's l' ring "in this country, but there have been liberal evidences of an " understanding " between many of the diminutive men with slender consciences and bulging bank accounts All the swindling is not their fault, we know. There are trainers who are crooked, owners not in that state required of Caesar's wife, stewards afflicted with blindness and cupidity. As for the stewards, the public has a right to be greviously dissatisfied in quite a laige number of instances and directions. Their, supineness has become a by-word, and the clause in the Rules of Racing which practically disqualifies them from betting receives very little honor. These are the unfortunate facts which have made the appointment of stipendiaries imperative. Public opinion demanded this reform. It now remains for the club officials to recognise that they are investing specially qualified men with responsible duties and substantial authority. The stipenediaries must have the complete confidence and the strong™ est backing of the racing clubs, or their labors will be in vain. We do not expect that all the corruption that has crept into the turf arena will be quickly, or ever, removed; nor that the public will always be thoroughly satisfied with the running of the horses. People who lose money at races -and the majority lose—are apt to attribute their misfortune to '' crooked " running rather than to their= own lack of -judgment. Not all the stipendiaries in the world can overcome this little element in human weekness, But if the gentlemen appointed to scrutinise the racing and to take action when necessary receive the co-operation and support of the club authorities, the public will recover much of their lost confidence and horse-racing will again become an enjoyable sport. If the desired cooperation is not forthcoming, if the present disgraceful corruption continues, there will be, as there has been in other countries, such a popular demand for the cleansing of the turf as will threaten the very existence of racing throughout the country. —N.Z. Times.