A PROTEST

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 826, 14 February 1903, Page 2

A PROTEST

At the Gisborne R-icing Club's meeting yesiertky, -titer the running of toe Grandstand Handicap, >■. protest was entered by Mr D. Hepburn, owner of Lady Haven, against the winner, Koseplot, on the ground that too harse had not been transferred from F. Rhodes to M. C. Rhodes. A protest on somewhat similar grounds had been considered by the stewards on the previous day and dismissed. It was alleged by Mr Hepburn that the mini" of F. i; nodes had appeared on the forfeit list, and he stdl continued the management and control ct Roseplot. Mr Hepburn in -ulimittiog the protest refeircd the .-ue wards to No. 71 of the rules of racing, which reads us follows :• — •' So lung as the name of a person is in the unpaid forfeit list as published in the otiicial calendar he cannot subscribe to any race, and no horse can be entered by him or under his subscription for any race, whether acting as an agent or otherwise ; aud no horse which lias been entered by him, or in his name or under his subscription, or of which he is wholly or partly owner, or which, after his default has been published in the official calendar shall be proved to the satisfaction of the stewards to he under his care, training, management, or superintendence, shall be qualified to run for any race; and so long as any horse is in the unpaid forfeit list as published in the official calendar, such horse shall not be entered or run for any raco.”

Captain Tucker said that he thought that the stewards had unanimously agreed the previous day as to the transfer of the horse. The protest, he considered, was much the same as the one on the previous day. Boing called to give ovideuco in support of his protest, Mr Hepburn said that that the stewards were all aware that Rhodes had the management of the horse. Rhodes had the management of the horse at the Foxton meeting, and had been in charge of it ever since.

Mr Newman : Do you mean to toll us that it is necessary to have a transfer lor a straightout sale ’! Mr Hepburn : I claim that he has had the management of the horse straightout. Mr Matthewson : Rut you were present at the enquiry held yesterday, aud you made no remarks. You approved of the decision of the stewards. The resolution that the protest should be dismissed was carried unanimously. Mr Hepburn : I pointed out that it was the duty of the stewards to investigate the matter. I said nothing. I held my tongue because I thought that I should probably be in the position of the person pretesting before the mooting was over.

Mr Matthewson : The result of the meeting was unanimously approved of. Mr Newman : Your silence, Mr Hepburn, carried your consent.

Mr Hepburn : My contention is that Rhodes is managing the horse, and has always been wherever it has been running. Mr Matthewson : Tho husband and wifo are one. Tho husband can always act for the wife.

Mr Newman : Cannot you bring some evidence that Rhodes has had the management of the horse '? We cannot accept your bald statement-. How do you know that Griffiths has not been in charge of the horse ?

Mr Martin : I do not seo that we can do anything other than dismiss the protest. After further discussion, Mr Hepburn said he had no cvidenco to call, and on the motion of Captain Tucker, it was unanimously' decided to dismiss the protest.