Cromwell Argus. AND NORTHERN GOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. Cromwell : Tuesday, October 6, 1874.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 262, 6 October 1874, Page 5

Cromwell Argus. AND NORTHERN GOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. Cromwell : Tuesday, October 6, 1874.

There is a peculiar tone , adopted by certain would-be sportsmen,—a rather numerous class, by-the-bye,—which we would recommend to the attention of the members of our local Jockey Club, and of the public who patronise their efforts. It has been manifested to our knowledge before, bat never in such an outspoken, and wo might almost say outrageous, fashion as daring the last Spring Meeting. We refer to the way in which the handicaps are received, and indeed any rules or regulations adopted or issued by the Club. Of course it is a right and proper thing that all the actions of tho Club should be criticised, but we object to their actions being criticised in that peculiar fashion which amounts to saying that the Club exists only as a recognised machine for distributing such and such sums of money into such and such a one’s pocket. Better far would it be that the Club were at once and for ever abolished, than that such a feeling should be allowed to exist, and such a method of expressing it tolerated. Certainly, on tracing such expressions of feeling to their sources, we generally find that they emanate from men who, while sharing in the amusements and benefits provided by the Club, contribute in not the slightest degree to its revenues by subscription or otherwise. If by any chance, for the privilege of running a horse they are obliged to pay a qualification fee, one would think, to hear them talk, the Club was entirely supported by them and them alone. Sufficiently contemptible the remarks to which we are alluding are, no doubt, and equally bo no doubt are tbg authors of them ; but if they succeed in driving off the course owners of horses like Mr Hazlett, as we have been informed will be the case, we say it is time the matter were taken into consideration by the Club. We say by the Club especially, for the public, we feel assured, will as a whole support the stand taken by them in the matter. It is monstrous to think that sports, so far as racing is concerned, should be left entirely in. the hands of the professional brethren. Let the Club consider for a moment the position a local man who owns a horse a little better than the ordinary run is placed in at race times, —such a position as Mr Hazlett, for instance, the owner of Brunette, and lately owner of 'Atlas, occupied at last meeting. Mr Wiughtsox, than whom no better handicapper is to be found in ■'the Province, and we are sure no more ■upright and honourable one, refused to handicap in any races in which Mr Hazlett’s horse was‘entered. Mr Wrightson apparently could not see the force of performing honorary services only to get himself abused and charged with doing all sorts of mean things. Somebody, how«ver, made the necessary handicap, and ■again it became a cry with a number, “ Oh, the race is intended for Brunette; Verbena needn’t run for it.” The race, however, fell not to Brunette ; Verbena did run, and won it, settling the question, one would surely think, as to whether it had been intended for Brunette or not. Not at all, the cry was only a little altered, “ Oh, it was arranged that Brunette should lose 1” Is it not rather hard that Mr HazLRtT should be dealt with in this manner. His horse cannot win but it must be said that the race was made a gift to him, and he-cannot lose without being insulted by suspicions being thrown out that he has arranged it. No wonder he has made up his mind, if report be true, to retire from supporting the local races by keeping racehorses. Not only has he himself these un pleasant remarks to put up with, bi.t he "has the satisfaction of knowing that any member of the Jockey Club with whom he may happen to be on anything like friendly terms, is liable to have the same remarks pointed at him. We intend in the meantime to only refer to the existence of such a state of things in the hope that a speedy remedy will be found. It will be a serious evil to the Club and the district if the contests for the prizes of most value are in future to be left entirely to professional race-horse owners. We have had some experience as to how things are likely to go in that case. It would be ten times bettor that Spring and general meetings were abolished altogether, than that any feeling such as we have above indicated should be allowed to spread to the extent of driving all our local sportsmen off the course. We may have occasion agaiiv-to .touch .op, racing matters.

but in the meantime we hope that the Club will in future consider the propriety of instituting some reform. Greater care, for instance, in the selection of their Stewards —no half-and-half sorb of men, who are always threatening to resign if everything does not go their particular way, who are always sulking-and thwarting their neighbour Stewards at the most critical times, and who publicly and unfavourably discuss any action taken by the Stewards as a body, if their own particular consent has not been first obtained. Greater care must be exercised in the appointment of their executive officers, —the starter, handicappers, &c., and it must be made an invariable rule to give these officers all the moral support of the Stewards as a body, hiast, but not least, the Club must (we use ' the word advisedly) absolutely prohibit, as far as its power goes, and do its utmost to stop the present practice of selling Calcutta Sweeps, if it is intended, speaking quite in a sporting sense, to preserve the least semblance of fair dealing and morality in connection with what is sometimes called the national pastime.