SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 3226, 23 June 1873, Page 3

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

THE PEERESS CASE. We (Examiner) print below a copy of this case, submitted by a gentleman in Nelson to Admiral Ecus, and the Admiral’s answer, received on the 17th inst. The italics are the Admiral’s own CASE. For the Canterbury (New Zealand) Cup, 1872, weight for age, six horses .were entered, including Mr Redwood’s ch m Peeress, and Mr Walters’s* b m Yatterina, both aged. Peeress won the same race in 1870 and 1871, and was backed at even against the field, Yatterina standing next at 2 and 3to 1. Mr Redwood’s mare was for sale, her price LBOO, if sold with engagements, and several offers were made for her. Two days before the race, Mr Walters gave Mr Redwood his price,andsoratched the mat efor the Cup the same evening, believing he could win with Yatterina, and intending to reserve Peeress for the Metropolitan Handicap on the second day, in which she was giving lumps of weight to the field. Immediately Peeress was scratched, the Jockey Club disqualified her from ever running again in Canterbury, and the same course has been pursued by most of the local clubs in the Colony with respect to meetings held under their rules. It is proper to say that suspicion existed on the part of the club that Mr Walters had received a consideration from the bookmakers, who had laid heavily against the mare in double events. Question. Is there any racing law in England to justify the step taken by the Canterbury and other clubs ? To 0. Elliott, Esq., Nejaon, New Zealand, Dear Sir, -Your letter qf January IX has just arrived. To your question, Is there any racing law in England justifying the Canterbury Jockey Club disqualifying Peeress from ever running again for any race in New Zealand, including the Metropolitan Handicap in which she was engaged?- the judgment being grounded on the suspicion or fact that she was bought by

the bookmakers, who had laid against her for the Cup, to rob the persons who had backed her, my answer is—There is no Racing Law in Europe to justify the verdict. The English Jockey Club can warn off every race-course the offenders in an outrage , but they cannot disqualify a horse unless he has fraudulently run, or been entered to run for any race under a false description. Therefore, by no existing law can a horse, properly entered for a Plate, Cup, or Sweepstakes, be disqualified, unless he is named by or belongs to a defaulter; and no Turf Club can make a Rule to justify the proceedings of the Canterbury Jockey Club without violating the law which protects private property. Every man has a right to do what he pleases with his own, provided he is within the precincts of the law , and I am at a loss to comprehend by what rule the Canterbury Jockey Club disqualified Peeress for the Metropolitan Handicap. Out of evil good may arise. They will discourage betting, and teach the young men not to back a horse till his number is up. As I have known New Zealand as far back as 1827, when I commanded the Rainbow, I am much interested in the Colony, and shall be happy to hear from you whenever I can be of service. —I am, &c., H. J. Rous. 13, Berkeley Square, March 30th, 1873.