view raw text
OWNERS ARE URGED TO REPORT DEATHS. "One of the importai ibtails of turf affairs in which breeders and owners are sadly negligent is reporting the death of horses that die in the stud or while racing," says the Morning Telegraph. "Like many other details of turf management, the breeders and owners are prone to treat tills as a matter of little importance, but such is not the case. "It lb not only of vital importance in uiakiug the records complete, but would oftentimes mean a saving to the owner. By the rules of racing, the report of the deatli of a horse is equivalent to a declaration from all engagements. Such declaration cannot be made on the mere published reports of the death of a horse, but only on the written report from the owner. There are good reasons why the published reports cannot be accepted as evidence. A few years ago two horses with names very much alike were stabled at the same track. One of these was killed accidentally during the exercise hours of the morning and the deatli published in the papers. But through the similarity of the names the wrong horse was reported. This was not denied, and no report having been made by the owner, the published accounts were accepted as evidence, and the records fixed accordingly. "Some months later the horse reported dead showed up to fill a stake engagement. The books of the Jockey Club showed that he had been declared from all engagements under the death rule, the records were corrected, but since that time the Jockey Club refuses to act except on the written report of an owner in such cases. "It is especially essential that prompt reports be made at this time, in view of the fact that Volume IX. of the Stud Book is to be produced this year. Every one is interested, or should be, in the accuracy and completeness of this work, and prompt reports In case of the death of a horse will materially aid to this end."
