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Canadian Division of HBPA Is Willing To Accept ,350 Minimum Purses Plan to Advise Members to 1 Boycott Woodbine Meeting If Offer Is Turned Down TORONTO, Ont., May 6. — The Canadian division of the Horsemens Benevolent and Protective Association, at a "drastic action" meeting held last night, carried a resolution by a margin of 210 to 13 that empowered its executive committee to compromise with the Ontario Jockey Club to the extent of accepting a minimum purse of ,350. This sum represents a 50-50 split from the original request for ,500 minimum. A previous resolution presented by J. M. Macintosh would have given power to the HBPA executive committee to resume negotiations with the OJC on the basis of accepting any sum in excess of the ,200 minimum already offered. He suggested that if the differences involved a principle in which the HBPA was striving for recognition from racing associations that successful negotiation would serve such purpose. The assembly rejected the motion. Another resolution that the original ,500 minimum be made the basis of negotiation was also rejected. Some 105 members of the organization were absent. Following the meetings acceptance of the ,350 minimum, the executive committee was further empowered in the event that the OJC refused the offer, to issue printed notices advising all members not to enter in any races during the OJC spring meeting with the exception of the Kings Plate. The majority vote favored the motion that "we agree to facilitate and support the Kings Plate to our best ability." W. E. MacDonald, legal adviser or spokesman for the executive committee, reported on the committees recent attempts to negotiate with a committee of OJC directors. He declared that OJC president. Col. K. R. Marshall, adopted an adamant stand, refusing a guarantee against loss at the Greenwood Club meeting as well as an offer that the horsemen accept a ,200 minimum for the Greenwood meeting with an understanding that subsequently a compromise would be reached for increased minimums at the OJC meeting. MacDonald hinted that it was a useless mission to proceed further with an attempt to reach a bargain, other than to notify him of their present willingness to accept ,350. Tom Clough, chairman of the Grievance Committee, reported that all HBPA suggested amendments to rules were acceptable to the ICRA with the exception of the rule that calls for a payment of to accompany the seasons first appearance of every horse on ICRA tracks. This was held in abeyance for future discussion. Frank South, national secretary of the HBPA, spoke briefly, stating that the parent body was 100 per cent behind the Canadian division in its present differences with Ontario associations. Horsemen were requested to refrain from shipping their horses outside of the province until such time as a final and definite decision was reached, and associations other than the OJC had made known their attitude. Meantime contacts were being made with race tracks and racing secretaries at nearby United States tracks for acceptance of Canadian stables. The assembly was told that this would be the final meeting of the organization unless overtures were received from racing associations.
