SPORTING NEWS.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 285, 11 April 1889, Page 2

SPORTING NEWS.

TOROA STEEPLECHASE MEETING. The following weights were declared yesterday, by Mr C. D. Bennett, for the above meeting : — Fdtino Handicap Cooper’s Naw York, 8.10 ; Hamon's Nora, 88; Smith’s The Moor, 8.1 ; Boyle’s Tit Bit, 8.0; Nasmith’s Luna, 8.0 ; Carrington’s Impostor, 7.12 ; Maher’s Slynter, 7.6 ; McMillan’s Forest Queen, 6.8. Easter Handicap Hamon’s Fitz-jamer, 8.8 ; Hamon’s Nora, 8.2 : Cooper’s New York, 7.12 ; Smith’s Ariel, 7.10; Smith’s The Moor, 7.5 ; Boyle’s Tit Bit, 7.3 Impostor, 7.0 ; Maher’s Slynter, 6.12 ; McMillan’s Forest Queen, 6.5. Toroa Steeplbchasb:—Smith’s Ariel, 11.6; Currie and Hogan’s Darnley, 10.5 ; Smith’s The Moor, 9.12 ; Parson’s Nancy, 9.7 : Karaitiana’s Rangitikei, 9.0 ; Bailey’s liuby (late Mo), 9.0.

At a meeting of the Hawke’sßay Jockey Club last week the following report from the conference of( delegates of metropolitan clubs was read : —“ The following delegates, appointed by the metropolitan clubs, were present at a meeting held at Hastings on the 19th March :—Captain Russell, M.H.R. (chairman), representing the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club; Mr G. H. Glifford, the Canterbury Jockey Club; Mr William Fawkner, the Wanganui Jockey Club; Mr William Percival, the Auckland Racing Club; and Mr George Hunter, the Wellington Racing Club. The meeting unanimously resolved that the metropolitan clubs be recommended to adopt the following alterations and additions to the rules of racing:— 1 1. Not more than one club shall be allowed to hold meetings on any racecourse, except by special license from the metropolitan cluh. 2. That the word “ at," in the fifth line of rule ]9, be struck out. and the following words inserted “ and the owner, nominator, trainer, and jockey of any such horse from owning, nominating, training or riding at or for." 8, That the rules as amended shall enme into force on the Ist August next. 4. That this conference is of opinion that the rules ot racing should ba revised, and that a meeting of delegates for that purpose be held during the next Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase meeting.” The proposals were adopted, and it was decided to call a general meeting of the club next month to confirm the rules. “ Willow ” writes as followsTo the Editor: Sir, —It seems evident that an inspector of races, a thorough understander of race horses and racing mon, will have to be secured, otherwise racing in the Bay will suffer. Personally lam no lover of outside meetings, but I certainly do disclaim, and that most strongly, against a stab in the dark given to the Waerenga-a-hika Jockey Club now existing, and to the Gisborne Racing Club, even yet in embryo. The so called ruling of the “ delegates " would amount to thio if adhered to, only a certain class of people oan race in the colony. Members of almost exclusive clubs, oan, by measures taken, simply hold and become masters of the situation as far as racing is concerned. Now, far from being a radical, I am conservative, but I do strongly protest against some few causing or endeavoring to oause, an , illegality (?) to become an offence. That it is unwise to have a number of minor meetings I admit, but that it would be wise to allow the few to " boss” the many who have cast iu their lot with the Waerenga-a-hika and Gisborne Turf Clubs, I deny. I submit that meetings held for the exclusive benefit of hotelkeepers, totalisator runners, purchasers of gates etc., injure racing interests. i