SPORTING NOTES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4168, 29 November 1884, Page 3

SPORTING NOTES.

[By " Hippo."! ] Tho southern papers aro very rough on the meeting that was held at tho Masonic Hotel the other weok re the scratching of Trenton. There is no doubt that the scratching of tho horse had a very fishy look about it at first. It was well known that he had been very heavily backed by the public, aud three weeks or a month before tho races there were all sorts of reports flying about, which mado some of the knowing ones hedge off what money they had on the horse. Then the first news we get is just a wire to say tho horse is scratched for all engagements, without any reason being assigned. Then when we get the Canterbury papers we see that " Actroon " says he visited the horse in his box, and that the suspensory ligaments of the near fore leg appeared to have been hurt, that the leg below the knee was swollen to three times its natural size, and on being touched he gave signs of suffering intense pain. Then, some time afterwards we see a certificate from Messrs T. Hill and E. J. Brock, both veterinary surgeons, certifying that thoy had examined the bay colt Trenton and found that ho had a decided enlargement on the near knee joint. No doubt it would have been far moro satisfactory to Mr. O'Brien and all concerned if he had got this certificate from Messrs Hill and Brock, before he scratched his horse, and handed the certificate and the scratching m together, it would have been far more reassuring and saved a lot of unpleasant romarks. " Mazeppa " in the Public Opinion in writing on the subject says : —" But while strongly inclined to resent, any reflections on Dan O'Brien in connection with this matter, I am glad in one way that it has caused some little stir, for it will perhaps " help to sicken backers from taking long shots about horses months before a race in thehopes of getting good hedging money at the post. Occasionally this turns out a paying " spec " but just as often, the man who" vainly hoped to "stand on velvet" finds himself in the long run in a hole.. Look at what has happened in this very race. Kmpp died, Liverpool turned out something inferior to what many took him to be, Trenton went lame. Eskatos declined one of the later payments : Lady Evelyn was.never formidable, and First King went slightly amiss? Really the game of early backing is not worth the candle. Of course if a man thinks it good

enough* to 1 run the'risk, he has a perfect right to:do. so, but he should, remember all along that he deliberately incurs the danger pof his going crooked.in ite'preparation, and when such a thing happens be Should manfully resign himself to his f„te and "part" cheerfully instead of cursing and swearing at the owner.- Owners are not always angels, but upon my word I think • that backers' sometimes tempt them to take to crooked paths.''; Now. tho scratching of Trenton, whether legitimately or not, fnatters . but little ; it' should/be a "lesson -to: backers' not to make /a horse too big a favorite, and; by so doing put temptation in the way of unprincipled men. The meeting at the Masonic, although absurd iv one way, may do good by causing discussion on the subject as to whether it would not be to the interest of racing in general to compel owners to assign a reason for scratching their horses after accepting-or-making .final payments, especially when it is well known that the horse has been heavily backed. It has been argued that a man has a perfect right to do what ho';likes; with his horse to within half an hour of the race. :,I think this should not bo so. An owner, when .he accepts or makes advance payments, by so doing acknowledges ho is satisfied with tho weights or intends to run his horse. After this, as the horse is engaged in a public race, tho stakes'"-for which are to a certain extent proviiL... uy the' public, I think the public should be considered to have a sort of vested interest in the horse for his engagements, and that his ownor should be compelled to give satisfactory reasons to the eommitteoof tho Club'for scratching his horso ; and that the committee should have power to have the hoivw examined, or make what other enquiriesnecessary to convince them that the reason given was genuine. Racing and betting are so intimately connected with one another, that to protect the interest of one you must })rotcct tho other. Jockey clubs recognise betting (through TiittorsuH's) in their rules, and have power to declare all bets off, rule 148 of the Hawke's. Bay JoiikoyOUib reads: "If it be proven to the satisfaction of the stewards of any raco meeting at which the club rules are iii force, that during any race a horso has been pulled, or that any improper practices have been pursued by either owner, trainer, or jockey, it shall be in the power of the stewards to declare all bets on that horse off for tho raco." I think the rule might be mado to be in force not only on the course, but at some stated time (days or weeks) before tho race. I know that clubs do not care to take it upon themselves to go out of the old grove and strike out a fresh line by making new rules, and to a certain extent they aro right, but they must keep pace with tho times, rules that wore suitable for the. times years ago do not answer the purpose now. Betting has assumed such a rank growth of la to, that it becomes necessary to take some steps to prevent it strangling honest raci.ig. I can see no objection that can bo raised to some such rule by anyone who runshis horse straight, in fact it would bo a protection to them. Tako for instanca Trenton's case, if there had been some such rulo, Dan O'Brien would have had to give his reason for scratching his; horse. The committee, or thoso appointed by them, would have satisfied themselves as to tho reason given, and there would have been an end to the matter. That thero are several difficulties in the way of working the thing satisfactorily I am aware, but I think if I the matter was properly taken up by those qualified to give an opinion, and the pros j and cons argued out in the press, somo satis-,) factory solution might be come to. . At the lust C. J.C. meeting the totalisators put through over £31,000, last year's meeting they put £28,236 through, and the year before £19,855. Owners of horses should notforgetthat nominations fortheW.C. R.C. races close this evening,' telegrams can bo sent.up to 8 p.m. to Kaikora. I havo not seen Mr Dennett's last purchase, Deceiver, stripped, but to judge of him with clothing I should say he was a big small one, with very powerful quarters. He is by Perkin Warbeck—Bribery. As a two-year-old ho only started twice and won both his races, at Ellesmere (Canterbury), first iv the Maiden Plate, and then iv tho Farmers' Plate. This year as a three-year old at Plumpton Park Spring Meeting he won the Spring Handicap, carrying 6st 1 libs; and, at the same meeting, he won the Grand Stand Handicap, with 7st up, Rubiua, Sst olbs, second, Whitbatch, Sst lOlbs, third. At the C. J. C. Spring Meethe won the first Selling Race carrying 7st 51bs, and was unplaced in the second Soiling Race with Sst 3lbs up, won by Talebearer, Sst 31bs; Mata, 9st 71bs, second. He is now in Percy Martin's hands to prepare for the.Christmas and New Year races. Bob Ray, after the C. J. C. Meeting, purchased Sou-wester for £500. All who know Fred. Hedge will bo glad to hear that the Grand National Steoplechaso Club havo taken the sentence of disqualification off him. Woodthorpe has received very good nominations —six being nominated for the hurdles, 14 for tho Woodthorpo Handicap, and nine for the Welter Handicap. I beg to remind tho owners of horses and all thoso interested that the nomination?) for the Hawko's Bay Jockey Club's, Boxing Day Meeting close on Tuesday next, December 2nd. Rather a strange occurrence happened on the Frimley estates a short time back. A mare about two months ago slipped twin foals. Five weeks afterwards she gave "birth to another foal, which is alive and doing well. Leonora, who has only been able to run into second place in the three races sho has started for since she left bore, was scratched for her Hutt Park engagements, and I hear will return home by tho Rotomahana