SPORTING

Taranaki Daily News, 10 July 1919, Page 8

SPORTING

WELLINGTON MEETING. j . TO-DAY'S ACCEPTANCES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. | Wellington, July 9. Tho following are the acceptances for the second day:— COHUNNA HURDLES.—Movement 11.10, Gang Awa', Munster 11.4, Orleans 10:13, Gold Soult 9.13, Signature, GoldBtream 9.7J Wild Pilgrim 9.7, Bairnsdale 0.2, Tigerland, Torps, Grafton Tot, Cyra, Warmth, Tuticorn 9.0. LIVERPOOL • HANDICAP. Parisian Diamond 11.8 Gazique 11.7, Form Up 10.13, Rebekah 10.6, Elocution. Matatua 10.1, J..,dv Black 9.7, Redshire 9.6, Comment, Old Gold 9.5, Hiero 9.2, Orawia, Riaingbam, Sea Sprite 9.0. JUMPERS' FLAT.—Multive 11.0, Zola 10.9, Orleans 10.7, Thrace, Want 9.13, Cynic 9.11. Movement 9 9, Sweet Tipperary &8, Munster 9.G, Hythread 9.4, Signature 0.2, Manu, Yankee JaeW 9.0. BROOKLYN STEEPLECHASE.—Master Lupin 12.2, Troublesome 11.1, Merry Lad 10.11. Gang Awa', Polthogue 10.9, GrafteUa 9.7. PENIJfSULA HANDICAP. Hincamaru 11.8, Canzonet, Sea Sprite 10.4, Tmafibbon 9.13, Kyoto 9.8, Guanaco 9.4, .Tustififalrion. Rang! ~ Aroha, Tame Pox B.S, California 9.2, Achillion, Pitch Dark. Royal Battetv, Probitv 9.0. ' FLEET HANDICAP.—Vas*hond 10.13, Alteration JO.ll. CTwnt Wj. Potentiality 10.3. Gold Kip 9.12, Sir Agnes 9.11, Pacific Slope 9.10, Athens 11. 9.7, Sir Ralph -9.5. Kfflcee 9.4, Pretty Bobby 9.3, Tirana. Padditigton Green, Mandrake. Crosswords, Monutc, Damicn 9.0. PETONE HANDICAP. —Hineamarn IKB, Hallow 10.13, Happy Voile* M.S. Canzonet T0.7. Matty 10.1. TmaW'bon, Tempo 10.0, Tieki 9.7, California 9.?. TonnVohe, Pervolo, Beloved, Minsk, Sunburst, Dick 9.0.

RACING CONFERENCE. SIK GEORGE CLIFFORD'S ADDRESS. Wellington, July 9. In opening the Racing Conference today, Sir George Clifford, president, said he did not hesitate in the conviction that in no country was racing so well regulated, as far as our regulations could be enforced, as in New Zealand. They were convinced that the banishment of bookmakers was desirable, but if so it followed that his operations should cease, a result only to be achieved by the action of the Post- ' master-General and the Minister of Justice; wider extended statutory powers. Legal machinery for the inevitable speculation on the races wa9 sanctioned by the Gaming 1 Acts and it was urged that the use of the double totalisator tie permitted upon racecourses and that secretaries of racing clubs be allowed to receive investments by letter or telegram. Where speculation was legal Ist it pass through the legalised channel which refused credit, was incapable of conspiracy and offeted no social risks to the inexperienced or unwary investor. Most trainers and jockeys were honor--5 able men, but still there was ample evidence of heavy betting on doubles. Whero large - sums were at stake to be won or lost iby bookmakers or by the professional backer, the public rightly ' conceived that inducements to fraud and , eoltn'ion might be inevitable. This atmosphere of suspicion might be cleared partly by the restoration of the double totalisator. Much too could be done by effective and impartial supervision of the issue of trainers' and jockeys' licenses. The president referred to the importance of, breeding horses of the best stamp for array requirements and urged that what racing clubs had done in voluntarv aid and monev and services during the war, also in the total taxa- , tito which they contributed to the Treasurv. constituted a solid claim upon out statesmen for a response to the clubs' request for legislative assistance. A total subscription of over £130.000 for war purposes and a total payment of taxes of fifWffi.OOO was no negligible title to their jratitiule which mi?ht well !>!= displayed in the authorisation of an increased number of totalisator permits for Tacing and trotting alike. : THE STAKES AT TAKAPUNA. At the Racing Conference, the president said the credit balance wns £448 • and ln«t "ear's deficit of £4W had been wiped off. It was decided that no action be taken in respect to Mr. Me- ' Miken's protest against the Takapnna dub not paving yi full the stakes won by Munater, but if the fact? were as represented by the owner, he miilit haver- riffht of action against the club The' Taumarumii, Waipn, Stratford. Manawatu, Opunake, and Takapuna Chibs were given permission to give less stakes than' the net return from the totalisator in the 1917-18 season on account of expenditure on improvements. • STIPENDIARY STEWARDS* REPORT. There were interesting references to IfHS-1919 racing, in the report of the .Stipendiary Stewards Committee" to the Conference. The standard required i'or the management of meetings, although improving, was not yet fully obtained. Better control should be enforced, and a keener oversight into the tickets issued to horse attendants and others. Clubs should locate the menace of individuals, acting more or less openly aH book- ' makers' agents, corrupting racing and diverting large sum's from the totalizator. The opinion was expressed that clubs should 'provide a medical man, *" qualified veterinary surgeon and farrier for all meetings Rule 5, part 26 of the Rules of Racing Wais most mischievous and liable to grave abuse. They recommended a uniform style of starting gate, the employment of efficient racecourse detectives and emphasised that it was quite apparent that illicit betting was growing enormously. Although the existing law should be quite efficient to prevent book- , making no effort was made by the Qovemaient adequately to enforce the provisions of the Gaming Act. A good standard of racing had been maintainejl. but the class did not show a perceptible improvement and the jumping o* horses was deteriorating. De; fpite the war, racing wag even more popular, notwithstanding the" inconvenience n f lack of railway facilities during the latter half of the season. Interference in running was not frequent, - wWlo the racing had teen remarkably •r free from serious accidents. Reference - wai also made to the licensing of .trainers and jodceys on the lines pre./TOuslv recommended. It wa9 UTged pf ;*hat persona having no right there he extiriei.fem£se i>fe* cgfe J %<> .' '-

OTHER .RESOLUTIONS. The Racing Conference adopted a resolution that programmes for winter meetings should not .include mors than one race on each day for horses of three years old and upwards, of a less distance than six furlongs. • The following resolution was passed: The . conference hereby requests the authorities to take steps to authorise the Working of the double totalisator on racecourse, as its establishment would tend to the advantage of sport and the benefit of the public. The Presideht,, Sir Geo. Clifford, moved that licenses shall be granted by a licensing committee of the conference to be called the Licensing Committee, consisting of the president and six pereons to he elected at each annual conference, and shall be issued by the secretary of the conference. ' After a lengthy discussion the motion was lost by 21 votes to 12. COUNTRY CLUBS ANNUAL MEETING. Wellington. July 0. The annual meeting of the Country Racing Club's Association was hold tonight, the executive, in the annual report, considered that country clubs should endeavour to secure better representation on the Racing Conference, and advocated the introduction of the double totilisntor to put down the illegitimate double betting. The meeting passed a resolution that in view of the increase in the population since 1910. the development •of new districts, and increase in popularity of horse racing, the executive be requested to urge upon tho Government to legislate for'the restoration of tho days of racing taken away in 1910.

It was decided that the existing system of licensing should be continued. Officers were elected as follow: President, Mr. Walter Bruce (Thames); vice-president, Mr, D. J. Evans; executive, Messrs J. H. Finney (Nelson), R. Patterson (Westport), ff, H. Hayes (Avondale), Hon. E. '. A".3on (Takapuna).