THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, JULY 29, 1913. THE RACING CONFERENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 29 July 1913, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, JULY 29, 1913. THE RACING CONFERENCE.

The Racing Conference, recently iheld in Wellington, was-responsible ifor a number of interesting discussions on questions affecting the future of horse-racing in this country. The Conference may, or may not, be fortunate in having at its head a gentleman who is closely associated with the sport.- Sir George Clifford has for many years been a controlling spirit in horse-racing. £ If he has done nothing else, ihe has striven hard to keep the' turf clean, and to make the sport one that will appeal to all sections of the community. A reso; lution submitted by him at the recent Conference/ having for its object the prohibition of ,betting with bookmakers by ihorse-owners, was evidence that he is desirous of removing one of the objectionable environments to the sport. Although the resolution was defeated, it will go a long way towards minimising the evil that is said to exist. There are other questions surrounding the turf, however, to which Sir George Clifford might have addressed himself with advantage. He might, for instance, have advocated the wiping out of all minor sprint races. The primary object of horse-racing should he to encourage the breeding of serviceable classes of horse®, and to provide a healthy amusement for the people. Can it be argued that four and five furlong jaoes improve the breed of horses r Is there any justification whatever for their place on the race programme? Do they not encourage the breeding of weedy horses and weedy men ? We are convinced that if horse-racing is going to be of great value to the State, better inducement must be given to the breeding of cross-country horses. Animals are wanted that will carry list and 12st men over two and three miles.. It is time that most of the winter meetings make provision for weight-car-riers. But what is to become of these horses in the summer months P In many places hurdle events are cut right out of the programmes. The result Is a deterioration in the class of ttur cross-oountiy horses as has been been strikingly emphasised during the last year or two. We are not felon (j) flunking that ihe tlma

has come when Sir George Clifford j and other wealthy owners should turn their attention to t/he breeding of army re-mounts, and horses that will be of service to the State. They might also reflect upon the effect that the breeding of diminutive jockeys musti have upon the future of tihe nation. If we had a better class of horses, we should not require "weedy" riders. This ia not by any means an unimportant aspect of the racing question. If we want the best horses and tho best men, we must set our face against lightweight and sprinting events, and go in more for cross-country events. In this connection the fact is to be deplored that the Hunt Oluhs of the Dominion have not received the support from either the Racing Conference or the Legislature to which they are entitled. They have done more to improve the breed of horses than most of the Racing Clubs, and yet, when lit comes to the distribution of totalisator permits, they are completely ignored. It is to 'be hoped that tho Legislature will see to it that the discrimination against Hunt Olubs is not permitted to continue.