SPORTING.

Evening Star, Issue 3301, 18 September 1873, Page 3

SPORTING.

THE LATE ACTION OP THE DUNEDIN JOCKEY ' CLUB. We { Waikouaiti Herald) have been requested to publish the following letter written by a sporting man, resident in Christchurch, to a friend in Dunedin Christchurch, Aug. 28, 1873. My Dear John,—l received yours of the 14th, and think that the D.J.C. acted very disgracefully in taking the disqualification off ;Bab Rcay in the sneaking manner they did. It was clearly proved at Tuapcka that Reay i maliciously jostled Atlas off the course, and over a drain—not caring whether he ruined .the horse or broke the rider’s neck. It was not ! done in the heat of the moment, but wda preimeclitated. Reay is too old a jockey to lose his jhead. In the race, Reay and Prince between ithem owned Tambourini, Hatred, and Burgundy. Atlas was the only horse that troubled i them. They tried to buy him from Hazlett; ' and after repeated offers, bid him L2OO, on con- ’ clitiou that he would allow the horse to run in hia name, but he declined. They then determined that at all hazards one of theirs must win; they meant it for Burgundy, having bought him in all the sweeps—Hatred to make the running for Ifim; but Atlas went at such a, pace that it upset this little game, and Hatred was obliged to win. From what I can learn, Mr Campbell, a member of our Club, when in Dunedin a month or, two ago, used all the influence he could to get the disqualification taken off. He then intended sending Reay to Melbourne with some horses, and of course wished him to go over a 1 free man of the turf. It is very easy to understand why Captain Hutchison took the course 'he did. He has three horses coming up here for our November meeting, -and, no doubt, is anxious to stand well with our Club ; but I expect his chief object by making Reay free was that he would be sent to Melbourne and take with him some dangerous horses, whereby the Captain would have a better show with his team. I have been told, but perhaps it is not true, that Campbell bought a lot of clothing or saddlery from Reany, and got him to assist iu the matter. Our Club has never known the facts of lleay’s disqualification, because, after they received the qotice from your Club, they passed a resolution That only the chief Club in a Province should be corresponded with.” _ This was done in order that they might avoid learning the truth from the Tuapeka Club —to whom your Secretary referred them for full particulars, A resolution was sent to the D.J.C. in which our Club says—“ That Reay having borne a good character as a jockey for eighteen years, &c., iic,” I believe this’to be untrue, as I know that for years past Reay has been guilty of all ; sorts of dodges in Otago, and I behave there is something agfdust him on the, Wvst Coast. 'Now, at ouj.Jfwjt ft letter Wftsvoftdfyow,

Mr Sydney James, informing us that you had taken off lieay’s disqualification ; also, that the D. J.O. had passed a resolution requesting the O.J. C. to remove the disqualification from William MTCay, which the 1). J.C. had already done, thinking that he had been sufficiently punished. I trust to hear from you on this latter subject. M‘Kay has asked this Club to interfere, and I have informed him of the above resolution. Our Club would not interfere in the matter, so you see what an opinion they must have of yours. Ido not think our Secretary has even had the courtesy to acknowledge the letter. Your Club would have gained respect had they also declined to interfere, and, as is always usual in such cases, referred to the Stewards of the Tuapeka Itaces, who disqualified Keay. It appears to me that the I). J.C. have been outwitted. Certainly they have been made the tools of a few members of tins Club just to suit their own purposes, and not having attained their object, decline to accede to Mr Sydney James’s earnest, and I think reasonable request. , Only one word more and I won’t bother, you anv longer. M’Kay’s case was not nearly so bad as lieay’s. M‘Kay lost, or dropped, his weights, and no harm was done except to a few betting men.—Yours truly,