DISQUALIFIED HORSES.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1146, 1 April 1872, Page 4

DISQUALIFIED HORSES.

Tho attempt of Mr David Jones to test the qualities of a Victorian-bred steeplojchaser with the best cross-country horses in the mother country has met with a most unexpected and disagreeable contretemps. The Dutchman, who was selected for the purpose, arrived safely in Eng, laud, apparently not much the worse for. his Bojourn on board the Lincolnshire. He was at once put into work, and both, his owner and trainer were vory sanguine of his opening the 'eyes of the old folks at home to the numerous excellences of the Australian horse, although the style of jumping and the nature oi the country j with its water-jumps, hedges, and banks, was very different to that which ho had been accustomed. Nor was the most in«l clement portion of an English winter the fittest weather to get into condition after coming from shipboard a horse accustomed to the mild and temperate climate of Victoria. But Mr Jone3 and his trainer Moran wero so satisfied with the progress of their favorite that ho was entered for the Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase. Here, however, an unexpected difficulty arose. Eighteen .months ago the Dutchman was disqualified by the; Melbourne Hunt Olub for his running in, their cup, and according to the usual racing custom this decision was adopted by aU the clubs throughout the colony, so; that Dutchman's careor in Australia as a racehorso was stopped for ever. It wasj in vain that his then owner (Moran). protested against the justice of the de-j cision, and asserted that he did his best to win the> race, and that his defeat wasattributable to an error in judgment, and! not to design, and that a minority of the?ublic took a similar view of the case.; lie evidence against the horse and rider; was deemed conclusive by the stewards,; and against their sentence there was no appeal. Some good-natured friend made the authorities under whose jurisdiction the Liverpool Grand National is run aware of the circumstances connected with the! disqualification of Dutchman in Victoria. Mr Jones showed by incontestable evidence that at the time of that occurrence he had no interest in the horse. But as it was the Dutchman that was punished, quite irrespective of his owner ; the , stewards seemed to think that they had no option but to adopt the decision of the Australian club. .