DISHONEST RACING.

Dunstan Times, Issue 783, 20 April 1877, Page 4

DISHONEST RACING.

The writer of “ Notes” in Tuesday’s Titnaru Herald says :—The recent race meeting at Oamaru brings to light a practice which we are sorry to have to believe is very common in this Colony. It is reported that in one of the races a horse which, from his well known •abilities, was regarded by nearly everybody as the certain winner, was purposely held back and made to come in a loser. At various meetings we have had reason to doubt the honesty of races as far as certain individuals have been concerned ; but wo have never heard of a more clumsily managed ‘job’ than the one at Oamaru, if the circumstances are not exaggerated. I* would strike anyone from the report that Fishhook was so well able to win the race that his rider was afraid he could not prevent him ; and in no other way can we account for such a cute jock as Dcrritt suffering his hand to he shown so plainly. The exhibition adds great weight to the doubt we have long felt ns to the honafides of racing in New Zealand. For several years, among the most successful runners oi horses,

have been a gang of fellows who have evidently sprung into that position from the lowest rungs of the stable ladder, their position making them appear to be strangely out of place to those who are acquainted with horse racing in the old country. These men are closely connected with the canaille who attend each race meeting like a pack of hungry wolves ready to devour any lamb they may come across. Under these circumstances is it to be wondered at that what we have been asked to regard as a noble sport should have been prostituted here 1 We blame several of those who are perhaps entitled to bo called true patrons of the turf for associating with such blacklegs, thus aiding and abetting a great public scandal. Such fellows ought to bo scouted from the ranks of racing men, men, and until they are horse racing in New Zealand will never become thoroughly successful and popular. Under the present state of things many a race is settled before it is run, the consequence is that the public are both robbed and cheated. It is to be hoped the South Canterbury Jockey Club will follow the advice of their sister club at Oaraaru as to disqualifying Fishhook, that is if they are satisfied that the case was as bad as it is represented; and that they will keep their eyes open at the approaching meeting at Timaru, with a view to detecting fraud. It is quite on the cards that some of the gang to whom we have referred may be figuring at the meeting here, and in the interests of those people who have contributed money towards the races, and in fact in the interests of the general public, who may be induced to be spectators of the sport, it will be the duty of the Chib to exercise every effort to see that the proceedings are conducted thoroughly on the square, and to punish those knaves who are detected in transgressing the laws of racing.