The Racing Conference.

Manawatu Herald, 18 July 1903, Page 3

The Racing Conference.

The Racing Conference opened in Wellington on Wednesday. The Chairman (Sir George Clifford) in bis opening address said a provident scheme had been prepared, which it was hoped would relieve owners from liability in cases of accidents to jockeys, and also safeguarded the interests of jockeys. The sport of racing had shown unmistakable signs of prosperity. About 82,000 signatures bad been obtained to the petition for the retention of the totalisator. A committee was appointed to report as to whether criminal proceedings should be instituted against the parties concerned in the Opportunity 'ringing-in case. A motion from Otago country Clubs to alter the amount of stakes payable to an average of £2O per race instead of £l5O por day, was negatived. The conference negatived the proposal tfiat club*, holding race meetings on two or more days should include at least one hurdle rac6 ; on each day! It was decided, to call the attention of stewards to the rule regarding the appointment of judicial committees to deal with matters relating to protests and disqualifications. Motions for the appointment of an advisory steward and to debar a horse under three years of age from starting in any race' were lost. It was resolved that a hack be regarded as a horse which at the time of nomination has not won a ra2tt o! 80 so vs in value or races to the collective value of 200 sovs. A motion making it compulsory for a starting machine to be used at all race meetings lapsed. It was agreed to make it compulsory to weigh every article carried by a horse in a race; also that no allowance in weight be given gentlemen riders when competing against professionals. The latter rule will not affect programmes aiready issued. A motion to distribute the fees received by metropolitan clubs among country clubs for the purchase of trophies for gentlemen riders, and a motion to debar any person who has been employed in v a training stable from riding as a gentleman rider, were withdrawn. A motion from Hawke’s Bay to regulate the number of jumps in hurdle races was lost. It was decided that the number used for any horse on the totalisator shall correspond with the number on the race card. The conference decided not to amend the rules with regard to the paying opt of dividents on first and second horses. The committee appointed to consider the i Opportunity ringing-in case reported that it was inexpedient to prosecute.