SPORTING NEWS.

Hastings Standard, Issue 328, 21 May 1897, Page 3

SPORTING NEWS.

[By GitsY Grand.] After press hour yesterday Straybird won the Newstead Handicap after a good race with Popgun and Brennan who filled the places. The son of Wanderer returned £3 12s to his supporters. F. Cochrane, the South Island horseman, is open to engagement. His deeds in the pigskin are well known throughout the colony, and he certainly ranks as one of our leading jockeys. During the last four months Goldspur has started 12 times ; registered nine firsts and three seconds ; won £1062 in stakes ; and paid dividends amounting to £36 13s 6d. Hova (Ingoinar—Happy Land) broke down badiy in the Elder Stakes on May Ist at Adelaide, and his turf career has now closed. Auraria started in the same race and finished last. Galtee More won the Market Stakes at Newmarket on Wednesday. The inquiry into The Shrew case has ended up in a downright farce, and those connected with the mare may thank their lucky stars that such a game did not take place on any other course in the colony. The evidence showed that the jockey had received instructions from the trainer " just to take her to the post and then return to the paddock."' If The Shrew was unwell, as it is alleged, why was she ever sent to the post ? Only one reason can be supposed. But this " cronk " game pales into insignificance compared with the decision arrived at by the officials of the Club. The manner in which the affair has been hushed up is a standing disgrace to the Club. It is quite evident that there are two ways of deciding such cases—one for the big horse owner and another for the " straggler." If the latter had been dropped on in a similar charge the chances are that horse, owner, trainer, and jockey would have gone up as high as a sky-rocket. Had the officials done the just thing to the public the 112 investors on The Shrew would have had their money returned. It is true that a horse in the hands of a starter is counted a starter in a race even if the animal is left at the post; this is one of the contentions that backers have to expect. The case of The Shrew is altogether different. She was sent to the post with the admitted intention of not going, and the public were dropped down for £ll2. Let us look at this matter in another way. Suppose the mare had got away with the field and was leading a furlong from home and the jockey suddenly thought that the mare •was unwell, would he be justified in pulling her up ? Certainly not! The same applies to any part of the race from the fall *of the flag. The Stewards' remarkable decision in this very remarkable case is: "That the trainer musn't do it again." "What Is the turf in New Zealand coming to after this ?