HACK-RACING IN SOUTHLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 54

HACK-RACING IN SOUTHLAND.

The writer has, very lifctle opportunity of attending- the various hack meetings held during- the season, because many of them clash with the more important fixtures on the racing calendar. The acquaintance made with the minor meetings has consequently been small, but sufficient to show that the tone of some of them is distinctly antagonistic to > the welfare of the turf because their unhealthy influence mu6t have a tendency to spread to the more important gatherings. When fraudulent runsning can be successfully carried out at a small meeting those engineering the ramping become emboldened by success and naturally look for more important worlds to conquer. The state of haok-wtoinsc in Southland during the past season is drastically commented upon by a southern writer in the following manner: — '"The country hack race club season in, Southland is now finished, and upon careful reflection it cannot, in any way. be described as having: been a period of cood, clean, well-

managed sport. In years gone by, when many of these little clubs were started, these small meetings did much good in bringing- out useful horses that would very likely have never been seen on larger courses. The stakes were small, but the honour of winning was bip: in those days— the stakes are still small, tnd, alas, so is the honour with many of the patrons of these meetings. A certain class of individuals calling themselves bookmakers patronise these meetings, and in consideration of a pahry fee are licensed by the clubs to pollute the sporii, and thieve from the public who are still sportsmen enough to continue to lose and pay. There are exceptions amongst the bookmakers, of course, but unfortunately they are very much in the minority at theso gatherings. The class of owner is often the man who would rather win half the amount crookedly that he could win honestly, and the poorest class of horseman more often represents the jockeys engaged than otherwise. With that indifferent management necessarily associated with the apathy frequently shown by stewards of these clubs, unscrupulous bookmakers, crooked owners, and all sorts of riders, it is only natural that the sport must fall low at these meetings. One or two of the clubs have made every effort to keep the gatherings run by them clean and honest ; others appear to contain stewards who are not only indifferent to the welfare of sport, but want to be in every crooked or squared race. The time may not yet be ripe for the sport to be controlled by stipendiary or advisory stewards, but it is certain that these country meetings will help to bring racing into very bad repute with a large number of people unless jthe Conference insists upon some better control than exists at the present time. In the interests of racing generally we hope that the metropolitan body will inquire into the management and proceedings of these clubs before recommending the Conference to grant tliem permits for next season."