view raw text
Arlington Arlington Inaugural Inaugural Today; Today; Uniform Uniform Rules Rules NASRC NASRC Topic Topic Convention Action On Matter Is Asked Moyer Declares It One of Basic Purposes of Body; Menne Addresses Delegates By BOB HORWOOD Staff Correspondent ASBURY PARK, N. J., June 23.— The installation of new officers and a forceful plea by former president Earl J. Moyer for concrete action at this convention to bring about uniformity of rules highlighted todays third session of the twentieth annual convention of the National Association of State Racing Commissioners, held in the Berkeley-Carteret Hotel here. The early portion of this mornings conclave was given over to a joint session with the Association of Official Racing Chemists, which included a yearly report by AORC president Dr. Roger W. Truesdail, an ad- dress on "The Importance of Veterinary Research," by Dr. Mark Allam, dean of the veterinary school of the University of Pennsylvania, and the premier of a color sound movie, which proved to be an interesting documentary detailing the process of obtaining and analyzing urine and saliva samples. Hugh L.. Mehorter, of New Jersey, the incumbent president of the- NASRC, presided today and moved that yesterdays action making the election of new officers nominated by the committee headed by Ashley T. Cole of New York, be ratified. Mehorter then invited Earl J. Moyer of Nebraska to install the new officers. Before introducing Dr. Frank Menne, path- Continucd on Page Eight ; : 4 Uniformity of Rules Discussed Again at NASRC Convention Moyer Asks That Action Be * Taken on All-Important Matter at Current Meeting Continued from Page One ologist of Oregon, as the new president, Moyer said that he would be derelict in his duty if he failed to express his heartfelt thanks, and appreciation for a "tremendous job" to retiring president Moyer. "Hugh, Im proud of you!" Moyer declared, adding that his tenure of office had been highly successful in every respect; Dr. Menne, who later asked that his fellow racing commissioners dispense with the honorable title of "doctor," as he felt more comfortable when called "Frank," expressed his pride and appreciation in accepting his new post. The Oregonian, who was appointed the first chemist to the state commission in 1940 and became a commissioner in 1945, while serving as head of the pathology department of the University of Oregon medical school for 30 years, spoke "off the cuff." He said that he was well aware of the objectives and motivations guiding the NASRC and had attended all but one convention since 1940. Dr. Menne urged all commissioners to attend the NASRC conventions that they might learn "first hand" the problems and motivations. He pointed out that these conventions are not intended to slant the actions of individual commissions, which have different state laws, but to help and guide through the experiences of others. Dr. Menne added that in his position he was fortunate to have the support and influence of past presidents, who he said should be regarded as "patriarchs." "We are not bound by them, but wise to follow them," he said. Dr. Menne also urged all commissioners present to feel no hesitation in getting up and speaking their minds on the floor, feeling free to express themselves without hesitation. Selection on Basis of Ability Dr. Menne also urged the commissioners to pursue a policy of selecting members of the various committees on a basis of ability, as well as geographic locations, suggesting that the material furnished in the "biographic roster" compiled this year should be of great assistance. The new president then introduced the advisory committee, which will assist in selecting the other committees, and which consists of- Mehorter as chairman, D. Thomas Testa, Rhode Island; A. S. Drew, Louisiana; Earl J. Moyer, Nebraska; Ashley T. Cole, New York; William Fitzgerald, Washington, and James H. Inglis, Michigan. Moyer then presented the executive committee, consisting of Wathen R. Kneb-elkamp, Kentucky, first vice-president; Thomas J. Beedem, Massachusetts, second vice-president, and Paul Serdar, Illinois, third vice-president. The Nebraskan expressed his regret at not being able to present Emmett J., Kelley, New Hampshire, the newly elected treasurer, who was unable to attend because of ill health. Moyer also introduced "the indispensable Billie Smith," as he termed Mrs. A. E. Smith, permanent secretary and assistant treasurer. As the morning session was drawing to a close, Moyer declared he took considerable pleasure in a statement made by retiring president Mehorter before the start of the convention that a period would be devoted to free and open discussion from the floor. After referring to the many constructive talks which .the commissioners had heard here at Asbury Park, the Nebraskan said that he was "somewhat irked" that a stranger should call attention to the evident lack of uniformity of rules. Moyer made it clear that, far from disagreeing with the "stranger," "who was evidently Robert O. Read, president of the Horsemens Benevolent and Protective Association, he was only disturbed that this statement had to come from outside the organization of the NASRC. Moyer declared that uniformity of rules as a program was one* of the basic purposes of the NASRC,, Saying that it was not his purpose to refer to thelnerits or demerits of rules, but only to their uniformity, and added that he was particularly thinking of the claiming rule. Granting that regional differences of law and circumstance affect isolated cases, Moyer said that these cases were rare, afterciting the many instances of national uniformity of procedure and rule in other matters, and the 75-year struggle to obtain uniformity of state laws, he said that "is absolutely silly to race under different sets of rules." In conclusion, Moyer urged that this matter of uniformity be the principal topic of discussion at Thursdays meeting, EARL J. MOYER— Chairman/ Nebraska State Racing Commission and former president of NASRC took the floor to ask that action be taken at the present convention on the uniformity of rules problem. also strongly urging constructive discussion of taxation and legislation. "This convention should come out with solid recommendations on taxation, public relations and uniformity," Moyer declared. J. Samuel Perlman, editor and publisher of Daily Racing Form and The Morning, Telegraph, also urged that the NASRC accept the leadership implicit in resolutions adopted by the convention* which would be sent to the state governors. Perl-man spoke with particular reference to the overtaxation problem, adding that, while the NASRC resolutions may have no legal power, "they have moral force and moral leadership is the most important." Retiring president Mehorter, after thank- I ing Perlman, said that the resolutions committee was already putting in many busy and, he hoped, productive hours. Mehorter opened this mornings session by calling for a rising vote of thanks for the party given last night by Daily Racing Form and The Morning Telegraph for the commissioners, which he declared was "one of the best ever at any convention." Dr. Truesdail, president of the AORC, was then* introduced and read his "yearly report." This address outlined the continual advances being made by the racing chemists in their research and methods of detection of stimulants. Dr. Truesdail remarked that improved techniques developed by the racing chemists, unlike those of other scientific researchers, . are not published in technical journals, following a security policy that "prevents the availability of confidential and highly specialized findings to those who might wish to use it in a manner detrimental to racing." Using a blackboard, Dr. Truesdail pointed to the steady increase in the total number of official samples examined in the last three years, a rise from 55,089 in 1951 to 68,998 in 1953, without any comparable increase in the number of positive reports. Dr. Truesdail urged that both saliva and urine samples be taken of the first three horses to finish in all races. Pointing out that horses are not always stimulated to win in areas where only the first horse is sampled. Dr. Truesdail then introduced Dr. Charles Lormand, as "dean of all racing chemists." The Frenchman, who is vice-president of the AORC, then read a brief address in English, which Mehorter also read aloud. Between them, a correct pronunciation of both the French names and English words was achieved. Dr. Lormand said that he had been delegated to represent Count Niel, president of the French racing societies, and other officials of French racing, who were unable to attend the NASRC convention as this is the peak of the major French racing season. Dr. Allams address, which followed, proved to be an illuminating exposition of the need for basic research in the equine, and emphasized how little is actually known of the body functions of the horse in health and disease with particular reference to tendon and bone conditions, periodic ophthalmia and Abdominal conditions.
