REAY’S DISQUALIFICATION.

Evening Star, Issue 3314, 3 October 1873, Page 3

REAY’S DISQUALIFICATION.

To the Editor. Sir, —In a recent issue of your paper yon have quoted a letter from the Wo.ikou.oMl and Shag Valley Herald , in which mention is made of my name in connection with the supposed jostling of Atlas at last Tuapeka races.

A considerable amount of correspondence baa already appeared in your columns, I understand, on this subject; but as my name bas been brought into the matter, I hope you will allow me a short space to contradict the statements of the “ Christchurch correspondent,” quoted by you. I wish to state in the first place that, in my opinion, Reay was unfairly disqualified at Tuapeka. There were several owners of horses at that meeting, who, finding that they could not beat Reay’s team, decided to beat him by some means or other. So far as I am myself concerned, I distinctly deny having had any interest whatever in Ray’s horses; and I also state that Mr Hazlettis—to put it mildly—utterly mistaken in stating that I ever made him an offer of L2GO, or any sum, for Atlas. I also wish positively to deny that Reay had anything to do with me in connevion with Burgundy. He was my sole property. I bought him from Mr Patterson with his engagements. As be had been entered for a couple of races at Queenstown in Mr Patterson’s name before becoming my property, I got permission from Mr Patterson to continue running in his name. The writer of the letter I have alluded to above states that Burgundy was “ meant” to win at Tuapeka. 1 say that every horse that started in that race went on h>s merits but one, and that was Misfortune. With respect to the so-called jostle, anyone who bas visited Tuapeka race course knows that there is a very steep incline to come down. In the race in question, Atlas and Tambourini were coming down the hill at such a pace that neither Heay nor any other horsemen could have pulled Tambourini off. If the rider of Atlas, as he stated in his evidence before the stewards, knew that Reay was going to jostle him, why did he not pull bis horse back until he was round the turn ? He also declared that Reay struck Atlas on the shoulder with his spur. lamin a position to state that Reay did not tide in spurs on this occasion. What dependence can be placed upon Holt’s evidence after this ? The people who went against Reay and their motives are well known enough ; bat I know that the jostle was simply au accident ; and I may further add that Reay, who bad bought Tam in all the sweeps, lost about L2OO by the race. I must apologise for taking up so much of your apace ; but I may add that the next time the editor of the Shag Valley Herald publishes any news from his Christchurch correspondent, he will first instruct him to be a trifle more particular about his facts.—l am, &c., • Henry Prince. Christchurch, Sept, 25.