CONFERENCE ACTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 40, 17 February 1939, Page 4

CONFERENCE ACTS

CHECK ON ROUGH RIDING The executive committee of the New Zealand Racing Conference has set out on a definite campaign lo check interference in races, and a circular dealing with the subject has been sent out to all the clubs under its jurisdiction. Rule 289 of the Rules of Racing provides that a horse may be disqualified for a race if such honx?, or any horse belonging to the same owner or in which the same owner has any registered interest (a) crosses' another horse without being at least his own length and one other clear length in front of isuch other horse at the time of crossing; or (b) jostles, or itself or its rider in any way interferes with another horse, or the rider of another horse in the race, unless it is proved that such jostle or interference was caused by the fault of some other horse or rider, or that the horse or rider jostled or interfered with was partly in fault. The next clause states that any rider who, in the opinion of the stewards, caused or contributed to any offence within the meaning of the previous clause by foul, careless, or incompetent riding, shall be punished, either by suspension from riding or by disqualification, for such period as the stewards think fit. As the result of a decision come to by the executive at its recent meeting, more drastic penalties may be expected in future when cases of interference are under review. In any case, where the penalty for

an offence under Rule 289 is less than suspension for a period of two months, the stipendiary steward is instructed, unless the president of the conference otherwise orders, to appeal to the district committee for an increase in the penalty. Further, when any charge is laid by the stipendiary steward under Rule 289 and is dismissed by the judicial committee, the stipendiary steward shall appeal to the district committee and if necessary to the conference judges.

With this action by the executive lof the conference, there should be less ground for complaint in future rei garding the manner in which some races are run. Fear of the consequences should minimise offences under the heading of interference, crossing, or jostling.