THE ST. ANDREW’S HANDICAP PROTEST.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 159, 8 December 1874, Page 3

THE ST. ANDREW’S HANDICAP PROTEST.

[From the Daily Times,'] A special meeting of the Dunedin Jockey Club committee was held in the Empire Hotel last evening, mainly for the purpose of considering a protest lodged by Henry Goodman, jockey, at the race meeting on the previous day, ns follows “ I beg to enter a protest against the owner of Mabel for pulling, or causing to be pulled, the said mare in the St Andrew’s Handicap ; also against the rider of Mabel for pulling said marc.” There were present Mr Stephenson (in the chair), Messrs Marshall, Dowse, Scott, Taggart, Meenan, Cutten, James (secretary), and Captain Hutchison. The protest having been read, Captain Hutchinson asked at what time it was laid, in reply to which the secretary said it was after the Spring Handicap was run, or two hours subsequent to the race. Rule 73 of the club rules was read, which stated that any objection in writing must be made immediately at the conclusion of the race referred to. Goodman, being called, stated—l was standing alongside Mr Dodson by the flag at the starting of the mile and a half for the Handicap, and saw the rider of Mabel turn her round, and Dodson exclaimed, “What are you doing?” He stopped the mare, although she tried to get away with him, and would not let her go away. I do not think he ever had any intention of going away with her. The chairman--Do you know anything abou her 7 Is she a good starter ? Witness—l have always seen her a good starter. She was supposed to be pulled before in the Birthday Handicap last May. Thera was a great row about it,

The chairman—Do you think this man pulled that mare round wilfully? Witness—Yes, I do. Captain Hutchison—As you have won the race, and seem to have [ducked up the cudgels in this matter, I want to know why the protest was not put in for nearly two hours after the race? Witness -1 suppose that was on account of the Spring Handicap. Captain Hutchison—l want to know why you did not put it in immediately after the race, at the proper time ? Witness did not answer, and one or two present suggested that the flurry might account for it. Mr Taggart—l want to know if we can entertain this protest? This question not receiving any answer, witness went on to say that Messrs Dodson, Pitman, and Lcckio also witnessed the affair. Captain Hutchison—l have asked a question which makes the whole thing invalid. If you can show me a rule which makes it valid, I should like to see it. Mr Cutten pointed out that only one rule disqualified the rider. George Dodson —I acted as starter on the occasion referred to, and started the horses in the St Andrew’s Handicap. The Chairman—Did£you sec anything like the mare being pulled ? Witness —Yes; I did. The rider came up to me and said he hoped I would not have any false starts. I replied that if there was any it would bo their own faults. They came up, I asked if they were all ready, to which they replied that they were, and I gave the signal—“ Off !” Mabel took one bound, and then he pulled her right round wilfully. I said, “What the d are you doing. Why don’t you let the mare go 1” That he turned her head round wilfully and would not let her go. I am satisfied about this. What was the meaning of it I don’t know. Mr Taggart—Had you any interest in this race ? Witness—No interest whatever, either in bets or otherwise. By Mr Cutten —I have started the mare before, and had no difficulty in doing so. She is one of the quietest marcs in the country to start. By Captain Hutchison —The marc did not prove very restive, she never attempted to swerve, or proved fractious. He pulled her round several times. The mare was as quiet and cool as could be. I don’t remember her starting badly in the Birthday Handicap last May. Wm Pitman said he saw the rider of Mabel hanging back behind the other horses, and noticed that he did not attempt to push her. He [mllcd her head right round, thus causing her to lose ground. Witness was standing about ten yards away. He was sure she was pulled wilfully round, as the rider hesitated as to which way to go. Two other horses were restive. By Mr Cutten—l had an interest in the race, having Mabel for a double. The Chairman—Well, now, Captain Hutchison, I suppose you will have to defend yourself. There is no evidence there that you pulled the mare. Captain Hutchison—l have a good deal to say, which I will reserve to the last, Andrew Mitchelkon, the rider of Mabel in the race referred to, was next called. The Chairman—There is a protest entered against you in the St Andrew’s Handicap yesterday, for pulling the mare. Witness—Well, sir, I did not do it. Who says I did ! The Chairman—Never mind about that. If the horse started in the race, why didn’t you get in position, and not pull back behind ? Immediately she started you pulled her away. Witness—l suppose she got frightened. I never rode her before. By Captain Hutchison—She swerved once or twice before, and tried to get away, I wonld not let her away, thinking she would start all right, and she turned round. The Chairman —Then jmu will swear this was an accident, and you were told by no one to pull that marc? Witness—Yes, sir ; I was told by no one. I had no interest in losing the race; if I had won, I would have been .£45 in pocket. I am a stranger hero, and know no one. This is the second time I have been in to-vn. I have ridden before.

The Chaiiman —This is a bad start, I should think, to make in a new country, especially your being a professional rider. Mr Marshall—Did ycu consider Mabel a bad mare to start ? Witness —I don’t know ; T never rode her before. I have seen better men than myself make mistakes. After the race, the captain did not complain to me. He said the other man should ride her in the next race, and I had better go homo with my horse.

Captain Hutchinson—The only remark I have to make is that the mare was not pulled back, for I believe the boy acted fairly. He had not been two days in Dunedin when I was warned by telegram to be very careful, as he had known Goodman for years, and Goodman’s brother-in-law is in my employ. The boy has lost his reputation by stupid riding, and has lost me my money. It looked most extraordinary that he should have acted otherwise than honestly, having both lost money himself, and lost me mine. You all come on me like a lot of curs and nothing else. Mr Marshall—l should like to know what he means ? Does he refer to any persons at this table ? Captain Hutchinson—lf it is taken for this company I withdraw it. My remarks were meant for the outside public. This protest was not put in at the proper time; it onght to have been within half an hour of the race, and not two hours afterwards or more. Mr Dowse —I don’t think Goodman’s protest legitimate. The stewards ought to have taken the matter up. Witness put in his betting-book, and his interest in the race was read as follows : £SO to £4, Mabel and Envy; £3O to £ls, Mabel; £2O to £2. Mabel and Envy; £l2oto £l2, Mabel and Mabel; £2O to £2, Mabel and Mabel; £lO to £lO, Mabel; £ls to £5. Envy; £SO to £5, Envy and Mabel; £25 to £5, Mabel and Mabel. Frank Weston, bookmaker, had a bet with Captain Hutchinson on the race—£so to £5 Envy and Mabel. Witness requested the bet. While on the stand he hooted, and Captain Lorriesaid he ought not to do it, to which he replied he would do it again. He saw Captain Hutchison speaking to Lyons and Cohen, bookmakers, in the Empire, talking together, and although he paid particular attention to overhear what passed ho heard nothing said which made him suspicious. There was something strange at the last meeting, and he thought there was a chance of getting even on this.

Mr Taggart—All I can say is that if (his matter drops the sooner racing is put a stop to the better. It is clearly proved the mini pulled the mare wilfully. Mr Cutteu—l cannot nee that there is a particle of evidence against Captain Hutchison iu any way whatever, Mr Dowse thought it cruel to disqualify the boy, who was a perfect si ranger here, and debar him following his occupation, when they had nothing definitely proved against him. It was simply making a scapegoat for the public to bo pleased with the action they (the commit tee) had taken. Mr Marshall gave it as his opinion, after having witnessed the race, distinctly, that there had either been a collusion between (be owner and outside parties, or between the jockey and interested parties. He would move—“ That Andrew Mitchellson, the rider of Mabel, be not allowed to run or ride again on any course that the Dunedin Jockey Club has any control over, during the pleasure of the club,” Mr Taggart seconded the motion, and there voted for it Messrs Marshall, Taggart, Scott, and Mcnan ; and against it Messrs Hutchison, Bowse, and Cutten, Mr Taggart moved that consideration of the second part of the protest, dealing with the owner and horse, be postponed for a week, for the purpose of securing further evidence, if possible. This was agreed to. Captain Hutchison considered himself insulted by such adjournment, and handed in his resignation as vice-president of the Club.

The Bally Times of the sth says;—The chief topic of conversation in sporting circles during the past week has of course been the performance of Captain Hutchison’s mare Mabel in the St Andrew’s Handicap on Monday last. The settling went off pretty smoothly so far as the actual paying and receiving of money went, but there was a most noticeable want of that harmony that generally exists amongst those who get their living, or augment their incomes, by bookmaking. Those who appeared satisfied with the victory of Kathleen, and Mabel’s behaviour when the starter’s flag was dropped, formed by themselves only a small portion of those of the fraternity who had books on the St Andrew’s Day Races. The Christchurch men were particularly wroth at the result, and were generally losers, whilst one or two of the Dunedin men were in the same boat. A select few, however, viewed the proceeding with great equanimity. The action of the stewards in disqualifying the jockey has given pretty general satisfaction to the outside public, and there has been considerable speculation as to what decision the stewards will be enabled to come to to-night, when the second protest—that against the owner—will be considered. The matter has been fully discussed during the last few days, and most persons are of opinion that at present there is no evidence against Captain Hutchinson, The course he thought fit to follow at the meeting of the stewards last Tuesday night, and indeed in connection with the whole case, has been greatly condemned, as being unwise and very undignified on the part of a gentleman holding the position the captain did iu connection with the Dunedin Jockey Club and with racing. His presi nee at the meeting of a body of which he was vicepresident, whilst a charge affecting himself and one of his servants was being investigated, showed, to say the least of it, excessively bad taste. The stewards came to the conclusion that the mare had been pulled, on the evidence of several competent witnesses, hut in the face of this the owner of the horse stubbornly asserts his belief in the honesty of the rider, his servant. What is generally looked upon as the proper course for the captain to have pursued under the circumstances is that he should have dismissed the rider of Mabel from his service at once, tendered his resignation as vice-president of the Jockey Club, and if ho considered his own honesty questioned, forwarded his betting books to the meeting of stewards and remained absent himself. In the interests of horse racing the affair is to be deplored, and having in view the future of the club the stewards should leave no stone unturned iu their investigation of the matter.