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Evening Star, Issue 3675, 2 December 1874, Page 2

THE PROTEST AGAINST GAFT. HUTCHISON’S M A RPI MABEL. The Dunedin Jockey Club Committee met at the Empire Hotel last evening to consider a protest eutereci by Mr Henry Goodman, owner of race horses, during the progress of the races at the Spring Meeting. There were present—the president, Mr John Stephenson (in the chair), Messrs Cutteu, O. Dowse, S. James (secretary), Marshall, Met nan, H. Scott, Taggart, and Capt. Hutchison. The Se-' retary read the protest, as fob low< : —“To the Secretary D.J.C.—f beg to enter a protest against the owner of Mabel in pulling or causing to be pulled the said marc in the ft. Andrew’s Handicap; also against the rider of Mabel for pulling said mare. —H. G oodman.” Capt. Huichison asked at what time the protest was lodged, as rule 67 of the Club was to the« ffect that protests mustb i lodged within half-an-hour of the race ; and in answer it was stated that it was entered after two more races had been run—about two hours after the particular race. It was decided, however, that the stewards could take up a question of unfair riding at any time, and that the evidence in this case be heard. Henry Goodman, owner of hors‘B : At the start for the St. Andrew’s Handicap, I was standing alongside Mr Dodson (the starter), at the mile-and-a-balf, and when ha dropped the flag the boy pulled the mare right mind Dodson c ied out “What are you doing ?” The boy then let the mare go about twenty yards, and then held‘her in again. I do not think he had the least intention of getting away with her. —To the Chair : I have always known the mare to be a good starter, except once before, at a previous meeting. She was then supp jsed to be pulled in the Move! Race. I think it was that race ; anyhow, there was a great row about it. ' Capt. Hutchison 1 : As you won the race, and seem to have taken up the cudgels for the public in this matter, why did you not enter tbo protest at once—bifore the Spring Handicap was run? Mr Taggart : Ihere is always a bustle after a race. Capt Hutchison : I think he does not do this honestly. Mr Dowse : I think he has entered it honestly enough. Capt. Hutchison : I should like to see a rule wbwh m dies this procedure valid. The Secretary real rule S3, to the effect that the stewards had power to disqualify during pleasure any horse in the running of which dishonest practices shall have proved to their satis action. Mr Cuttkn : You can’t reach the jnr-kev or the owner with that rule ; it refers to the horse only. George Doinox, starter; I acted as starter for the race, and must certainly sav T did s-e the mare pu;led. The rider walked up to me before the race and said he hoped 1 would not, have any false starts, but that be would get off well. I said “ It is your look out not to make a false start, and I shall not send you off badly.” When all were ready I dropped the flag and Mabel took one bound, but the mb r pulled her right round wilfully. < ' n 6 UrC did it wilfully. I called qut What the d are you about; wh)’don’t you let the mare go ?” Then when she turned back again he would not let her go at firit. I had uot a penny on the race or any

interest in It whatever. I have often started the marc before and know her to be one of the quietest in the country, always starting well, she was not restive, and did not turn round before the start, or swerve. J don’t remembe - her starting badly in the Birthday Handicap at the May meeting. V\ ILLIA.M Pit.mav, book-keeper to Messrs Cobb and Co. : I was holding Mr Dodsoo’s mare at the starting post whi’e he started the hora?s for this race, and I noticed that the rider of Mabel did not try' to get a good start and would not let the mnre go. At the signal he puffed her head right round. I thb'k he pul It'd her round wilfully, as her head was facing towards the stand. He never tried to put her forward amongst the other horses before the start. I had backo I Mabel for f ho race in a doable event bet. The Chairman ashed Captain Hutchison if lie would call his j .ckey. Cap r.in Hutchison : I won’t call h : m ; T won’t alir mu of my chair. I. don’t see that you have proved that I pulled the mare, so I don’t care what you do. Mr C’uttkn : It is clear the jockey pulled her. As i w. Mitciiellson. horse-trainer: I rode Mabel in the >bt. Andrew’s Handicap. 1 did not pul her ; who rays f did ’ The Chairman : Never vou mind. When the horses .started, why did you not get into position, and not puli the marc hack ? Witness ; I will swear 1 never (lulled her. She c mm-notd to come back with mo. I suppose she got frightened. 1 never rode her before. it was an accident, and I was told by no one -o pull her. I had no interest in losing the race, as her winning would have b( en 1.45 in my pocket, I told the t aptaia to back her for I 10 for me, and I had her in two doubles, at L2O to L 4, and 1.20 to Ls—goin» halves in ihem’with Stanton, who took the wagers. I don’t know in whose book the bets are. I have only been in town once before now, and know no one here. I never rode the mare before, so cannot say if she is fractious. I have seen bettor mm than myself make mistakes. The Captain merely said to me after the race, “You had better go home with the horse, and the boy shall ride the mare.” The Chairman : This is a bad start you have made in a new country—yeu being a professed rider, and not a greenhorn. Captain Hutchison : The only remark I have to nuke is, that the boy acted honestly by me, and did not pull the mare. I had been positively warned that the boy’s only friend here was Henry Goodman. Goodman’s brother in-law is in my employ ; but I do sot think he or the rider got one shilling out of the affair. The boy had not been two days in « unedin when a letter came sharp after him, telling me to watch him well, as he had been a friend of Goodman’s for years. The boy has lost his reputation by stupid riding, and has lost me my money ; still 1 think him perfectly honest. You all go at me like a parcel of curs. Messrs Marshall and Scott would like to kuow what Captain Hutchison meant by that expression. Did he apply it to those present? Captain Hutchison : People outside have been at me—the public. My remark was not for those here. Those who have lost a little motu-y have been at me, because they see Iho mare did not win. I produce my betting-book. The Secretary read the following entries: —LSI to L 4 Mabel and Envy (Snider); 1.20 to L2 Mabel and Envy(Lyons and Co.); 1.30 to LIS Mabel (half of a bet taken by Mr Keany); Ll2O to M2 Mabel and Mabel (taken by Captain Lawrell from Snider) ; L2O to L2 Mabel and Mabel (Pritchard) ; LIO to 1.10 Mabel (Wheatley) ; Lls to L 5 Envy (Wheatley) ; LSO to 15 Envy and Mabel (Weston); f,25 to L 5 Mabel‘and Mabel (Lyons and Co ) Captain Hutchison : The mare’s losing the race male L 250 difference to me. I object to this protest, as it was not lodged in time, but two hours after the race. Mr Dowse : Perhaps this protest is not legitimate, but the stewards may take up a question of unfair riding at any time. Capt. Hutchisin : The boy knows nobody in town, and I believe he rode honestly. Mr Taggart : Y T ou took it pretty coolly. Lapt. Hutchison : Yes; I’ve lost many a hundred pounds in Dunedin. Mr Tago art ; Y T es ; and Avon many a hundred. William Weston, bookmaker : I laid Capt. Hutchison LSO to L 5 against Envy and Mabel. He did rot particularly ask me for the wager ; I rather pressed it on him, as it would be a saver for him if Mabel lost the first race. I booted on the stand when Mabel was brought in. Capt. Lawrell said I had no right to do so, upon which I said I had, and would d 6 it again. lam hoarse now from yelling. 1 also said after the first race, that I’d bet a level L 5 Mabel would get a better start in the Spring Handicap. A day or two ago I saw Capt. Hutchison and Messrs Lyons and Cohen sitting together on a sofa at the Empire conversing, and I, thinking there might be some little game on, went fis :ing for myself. However, though [ tried to hear what was going on, I could catch no remark, and I have no reason to believe there was anything concocted between them. Knowing there whs something strange at the last meeting, I watched so as to try and get even on this. If there was anything up, I should have liked to have been in it. The Chairm in : Well, gentlemen, that is all the evidence. Three men swear that Mabel was pulled wilfully. Mr Taggart : If this matter drops the sooner racing is put a stop to the better. Mr Scott; Ihe evidence is clear against the jockey. Mr Cutten : I cannot see any satisfactory evidence a laihst Cap);. Hutchisop. Mr Do wan : If you carry out 'this matter against the boy you will be doing a cruel thing. He is a stranger here, and you will be taking away his character and his means of obtaining a livelihood— ami all without anything definitely proved against him. You are simply making a scapegoat of the boy to please the public, Capt. Hutchison : The other jeckey who came ov< r with me says that the rider of Mabel was known to be nervous when riding in Melbourne. shall ; T saw the stait from the judge’s stand, and I giye my opinion without considering the popular excitement in the least. My opinion is, distinctly, that there was collusion between either the owner and interested parties, nr the jockey and interested parties. 1 can’t draw 7 the line, but I thiak tuere has been unfair lidiug. 1 had not one shilling on the race. I beg to move, “ That Andrew Mitchellson, the rider of Nfcibel in the fSt. Andrew’s Handicap, be not a<lowed to run or ride again on any course tb it the Dunedin Jockey Club has any control over.” Mr Taggart seconded the motion, Mr Dowse suggested that the words “ during the pleasure of the Club ” be added, which was done, aud the motion was then carried, the voting * eing as follows For ; Messrs Marshall, Mf-enan, Scott, and Tag‘.'art. Against; Messrs Cutten, Dows®, and Captain Hutchison.

Mr Dow.se : You have done a real act of injustice, it is a mean way of coming to a conclusion. I don’t think you had any proof against the boy. Mr Meekak : I was, and still am of opm on that the protest should''have beeii lodged within the specified time, as if is no|f roora and her owner. We cannot traos the orime to the latter, as the evidence docs not prove any complicity between him and the jockey.

The C ITati:MAX : Perhaps the part of the protest ;.ff'ming the owner had better be postponed to see if anything fresh turn up Capt. Hutchison : If you do that you will throw a slur oti me and au insult, on me, by holding over tieq icstion of my conduc 1- . The Chairman : Capt, ITutol.ion, if a charge had be> n brought against any other of us, would you not have been one of the first to held that the matter should be thorough>y looked in f o and implied int.-.? Mr Taggart ; Mr Kenny himself exclaimed to me that it was as great a swindle as was ever perpetrated. Capt. Hutchi on ; Why is he not here to say so ? Mr Taggart : I beg to move “That consideration of the protest against the owner of Mabel be postponed till Saturday next, at 9pm.” Mr Meehan seconded the motion, which was carried, no one voting against it. Capt. Hutchison; I put my resignat on of the position of Vice-President in the hands of the Club. Ihave been unfiirly dealt with --the Club has acted unfairly against me. Mr Marshal!. : It is not the first time you have resigned. Mr Taggart : .And you’re no loss. The meeting then broke up.