THE TURF.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2191, 2 July 1914, Page 5

THE TURF.

"RINGING-ltf" INQUIRY TEVIOTDALE-ROMANY LAD CASE EVIDENCE BEFORE THE TROTTING ASSOCIATION. \ i (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Christphuroh, July 1. J.he Now Zealand Trotting Association had under consideration at its meeting to-day—when there were present: Messrs. P. Selig (president), M. WaywardW. H. Denton, T. L. Meyers, . E. Sijiies, and C. F. Marl;—three cases of alleged "ringing in" of trotting horses, which have been under investigation for some time past. In addition, to the members of the board present during tho earlier part of the meeting, Mr. W. G. Garrard) chairman of the' Licensing Committee, was in attendance Mr. W. E. Simes proposed that tho cases should be dealt with in committee, but the president (Mr. P. Selte), said, did not think any good purpose would be served by .going into committee. He had approved of the preliminary investigation being taken in committee, but considered that any further proceedings should be taken in open meeting. Mr. Simes then withdrew his motion. Teviotdale—Romany Lad. The first, case taken was that of Teviotdale, alleged to be identical with Romany Lad. The president gave u brief outline of the facts, stating that when Mr. Garrard was on a visit to Dunedin, he had been informed that tliere were doubts regarding the identity of Teviotdale, who had run second in file Electee Handicap at Beaumont at Easter. Sir. Garrard had made two trips to Otago to investigate the case, Mid had taken the evidence of a number of witnesses, some of whom had identified Teviotdale as Romany Lad. Tho president said that three' out of five persons summoned to appear had como to Christchurch, and tho ether two had forwarded letters, dealing with the case. . 1

Robert. Stringer stated that he had bought Teviotdale as a maiden from Sir. D. Risk, jun., who, ho believed, had bred the horse.

David Risk, jun., of Kelso, stated that he had bred Teviotdale. He forwarded offidavita from several persons, who said that they had seen the horso during'tho past 18 months in the paddoclc belonging to Mr. Risk, and they believed he had bred Teviotdale.

A; M'Gregor, W. H. Mortimer, and H. Eadio_ were called in, and tho evidence which had been taken in connection with , the case was - read over to them. , The evidence of A. M'Gregor, trainer at Kelso, was to tho effcct that he saw Teviotdale about two weeks after lie was foaled. Ho recommended Mr. Stringer to buy the horse, aud had charge ofj Ijim until he was sold. It; was a fcrti weeks before the Beaumont meeting that the.horse was sold. lit. had bought tho horse The Quack from W Morti.mer, but he had no dealings in horses with T. Mortimer.

Robert Stringer, surfacemen at Beaumont, said that lif? bought Teviotdale from D. Risk, and kept him about twelve months before registering him. At the Beaumont races he was asked to go before the stewards, who. told him that'it whs rumoured that the horse was not right. He then signed a declaration to the effect thatv tho horse was .as represented'. After the Beaumont meeting he sold Teviotdale-to; a man named Wilkins, ' t'6 whom he had been introduced that day.

F; Clements stated that at tho Beaumont races lie had been asked to have a lo'ok at Teviotdale, and had como to the conclusion that .he was Romany Lad, a horse that- he had ridden while employed by A. N. Wilson.

H\ T. Eadic stated 1 that ho had been engaged by G. J. Conn to ride at the meeting. He rode Teviotdale, and when ho took him out to do his preliminary, it struck him that the horse had been well educated, as ht\ paced kindly. Just before the start, lie heard that there was some doubt about the'liorse,. and asked to be allowed to get- off him, but received no answer. While they were at the pofct," a. steward came up and said that it v,-as-all right, as a declaration' was being signed. • ■ ' >

' AV. H. Mortimer stated that he had given no authority for the namo to bo used in the purchase of Romany Lad, through Matson and Co. He did not live at home, and had had ' nothing whatever to do with his father's horso dealings for thirteen years past. He had been ,in present employment for just on thirteen ybars, and only took up trotting during the slack season. . H. Robertson, grandson of T. B. Mortimer, stated that he had used W. H. Mortimer's name in communicating with Messrs. H. Matson and Co. when 'they advertised Romany Lad for sale, but il was without Mortimer's knowledge or authority. He. had had Romany Lad at Invercargill for iwo days, .and then sold him to a man named E. Williams, who gave his address as Taieri. He had never seen Williams or horse since. '

In\ reply to Mr. Garrard, M'Gregor said that about two months before the Beaumont races he told Stringer to take his liorse away, as he had not time to go on with him. He recommended Stringer to give him to a man named G. Waite. The horse was returned from "'Stringer .-to him about three or four weeks before the Beaumont races. Before the Beaumont races, Conn said that Teviotdale was very liko Romany Lad, but. witness said that that wa£ not so, and he was prepared to bet Conn £50 that the horse was not Romany Lad He had never seen Romany Lad, and knew nothing about the sale, but had merely received a note from Stringer telling him to give deliverj; of Teviotdalc to "Wilkin-; son. Hp got rid of Teviotdalo and kept Lady Mine, the slower of tho pair, because he 'could not manage him. Lady Mine was doing about 2min. 48sec. before the | Boaumont meeting, while Teviotdalc? went 2min. 25Jsec. in her race.

Mortimer said lie did not know that his name had been used by Robertson until about a couple of da.ys before \V. A. Saunders, secretary of the Southland Racing Club, came out to take his evidence. Robertson made an admission to him- when he heard that there was some trouble over the horse. He frequently attended trotting meetings during tho slack season, and had had several deals in trotting horses. After considerable discussion it waß decided to postpone consideration of the case until further information bad been received, and to.call upon A. M'Gregor and R. Stringer, former trainer and owner, to produce Teviotdale for inspection Iby the association's examiner by August.

DACMOOR VILLA CASH. The board then dealt with the Dagmoor Villa case. The facts as summarised ;I}y the president were that at the April meeting' an application from W. H. Mortimer for the registration of Dagmoor Villa was refused, and it was decided to refer tho surrounding circumstances to the board's solicitor at the June meeting. It was decided to act on Mr. Alper's suggestion that the association institute an inquiry and call upon Mortimer and Kerse to show cause, under Rule 30S, Subsection B, why the,y,. or either of them, and the iiorse. Dagmoor Villa, should not bo visited'with an appropriate penalty for "corrupt practice" ii: giving false information as to previous ownership of the horse—in tho caso oi Mortimer,

by stating in Lis application to register f that W. Watson, vtn.B the owner; and ill Mio case of Jteise, by slating in.his fetter of Aprit C>, ISJI4, that he had purchased frosi 0. K. Chiltls. W. H. Msirtiiiief liiiglit at llro same time be (.ailed vipcH.l to slioiv cause why Dagmobr Villa should not Ire disqualiiied inukr mile 3iS!. W'hm) A. Saunders was oucstionoii by the Tioard on the matter, he prcntTs&ri to feViftrd ; what information os- itotes he tflak regiirmtig the .vo®fJtration. sf Dajiineor Villa: "He liaiil since Sent uj* a sHi) of paper from wliieh tie i» error,, information in Um ragistr.lfeii papßr. There was no 'kr.rbt that if the jnatewas in the Dominion, at the present tkne and liad not fcefii p}.a.eed in the care of Thomas Mortimer, theirs would He Wi further reason to refwse registration. The mare hail sine® beem soM atid shipped to IJobarf, and it was now a question whether the hoard sbmiM a.ct on Mr. Alper's- suggestion ts call Upoii W. H. Mortimer to sliotf eaiwe wliy ;Dai?inor Villa should not lie flisquali- . •fied tinder .Rttl'ft 312 ..for lvaving befen '"placed in care" tfi Thomas Mortimer on or aliout January 29, 1313, who, being, it was. alleged, ail ii3:te'rc.stc'.d party, obtained file ware b? representing himself to Mr. Cfiilds as Willi.im Kersey. Aft«r hearinc; a leugMiy oninion from the solicitor, it was decided to take no i'urthor action in the matter for the present. Alexandra Park Cass, The 'board a!sa dealt trith the Alexandra PaTk oase, Hie allegation being ' | that the horse taisioentical with !Re<T Cloud, a horse that had raccd in torbury, and also in in 1911. Evidence to effect had been gtfen by several witnesses, wliile other nesses, called by <1. K. Corrigsnr rts> nierl that siateirent. Oorrigaiv stated that Alexandra Pral; wag bred by binself, and he 'had werV.cd him for a eo.ttsiderablo time. The inqttiry is. stfll Cai 11.45 p m.) still continuing.