NEW TROTTING COMMANDMENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 83, 29 June 1927, Page 7

NEW TROTTING COMMANDMENT

THOU SHALT NOT BET ON THY NEIGHBOUR’S REPRESENTATIVE Among many important questions that will come before the New Zealand Trotting Parliament at Wellington eaHy next month is one which, if agreed to, will exterminate an old and popular custom among horsemen of “being a little bit” with each other in a race. THE REMIT The remit, which will. be introduced by the executive of the Dominion Association, through its president, reads: No horseman shall bet on any horse in any race in which he rides or drives except on the horse ridden or driven by himself. Any person betting with or for any horseman in contravention of this rule, may be fined, suspended, or disqualified. IMPROVEMENT ON PRESENT RULE The rule aimed at is not entirely new, as one akin to that being brought before the conference has been in existence for some time, but it was not far-reaching enough in effect. It did not deter a rider or driver from backing other horses beside his own in an event, and when this was done there was, of course, the suspicion that anything might happen. BENEFICIAL ALL ROUND The new rule will undoubtedly provide for the improvement of the sport and there should be little opposition when the remit is introduced. It seems an essential ruling and a safeguard to the betting public. It is considered that if the proposed rule is carried and put into strict operation it will have a beneficial effect all round, for the mere fact of a driver backing other horses besides his own in a race raises a suspicion that he might not be out to do his best. The racing should be all the cleaner and there should be an entire absence of team-driving that has not been altogether absent from certain races. ONLY DIFFICULTY There appears to be only one difficulty in regard to this question, when carried, as it promises to be, and that will be in the enforcement of the rule. It may take some time to get it into thorough working order, but strict and unfailing vigilance on the part of officials, aided by the exercise of the penalty to its full extent on delinquents who are found guilty of violation of toe rule, will tend to materially assist hi carrying out the law as intended.