THE GIMCRACK CLUB.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 35, 12 February 1890, Page 3

THE GIMCRACK CLUB.

Atthe celebration of the 123rdanniversary cf the Gimcrack Club in the city of York, on "December 10, the Earl tif Durham, whoso action in th-e GbettvyticUWotid case will be fresh in the memory of tno3b spotting men, referred to the position of the English Jookey Club as under :^*« They are an irresponsible, self-elected body, governing a great public pastime, with no charter, and with no legal powers to enforce obedience to their rutes. They exist only on sufferance, but will continue to exist so long as they inspire public confidence in their capacity and integrity; but should they fail to act in accordance with that sentiment it would be no difficult task to destroy their authority. In old days it would have been impossible to oppose their jurisdiction, or to refuse to acknowledge their authority, for their, command of the racing at Newmarket gave them the practical command of the turf. Now there is a very different state of things. We have a system of gatemoney meetiug3j and vast sums of money are offered for competition at Manchester, Sandown, Kempton, Leicester, etc. The inducement to run horses at Newmarket is not a pecuniary one, and it would not be difficult for a combination of the managers of those meetings 1 have mentioned to frame their own code of rules and to secure owners and jockeys to race .independently of the Jockey Club, and in defiance of their rules. The only retaliation that the Jockey Club could make would be to warn such per-ons and their horses off' Newmarket Heath —an acb that would very much re sernbla the folly of the man who cut off his nose to spite hia face. lam no opponent of the Jockey Club, nor is there any desire to take such a course as I have suggested would be possible, but the Jockey Club must remember that they are trustees of the turf, and that their responsibility is coequal with their powers." Lsiter on, he alluded in the following terms to the sjstem in vogue of holding turf investigations—a system not unknown in Ails:rah*a and New Zealand :—" I should prefer a little more publicity to bo given to the meetings of the Jocke3' Club, and to the reason* and evidence which'influence their actions and decisions. Why should not reporters he 'present at meetings of the Joc-cy Club? What is there so secret and mysterious about cHii" deliberations ? Are we throned So high above common morals that no profane eye is to watch our mooting, and no vulgar pen is to record tho words of wi-doru timt fall frotn dur noble lips ? Are we to exercise absolute power, and yet give no accbUtit of our stewardship ? Have w£ inspired such Unlimited confidence in she past that we are to hftve boundless and irresponsible pbwdr in tli9 future? i rather think that the functions of the Jockey Citib should be to keep itself in touch With all classes of Jweiag inert, in order that it may remedy abuses, rectify mistakes-, aiid initiate reforms."