STORY OF FOUL PLAY.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1922, Page 1

STORY OF FOUL PLAY.

1020 ST. LEG ER SENSATION. LONDON. Aug. 23. A turf tale relating to tlie Derby winner, Spionkop, such as might have been written bv Nat Gould, is told by the famous trainer, P. Gilpin, in “Weekly Dfepateli,” Sn explaining wliv the horse, after starting favourite in 'the St l.oger of 1920, amassed his backer's bv bis dismal failure. Gilpin 'savs that Spionkop was “nobbled” on the day of the race The horse had been specially stabled at Doncaster and was perfectly well. He seemed to be a sure winner until noon on the day of the race, when Gilpin decided to have a final look at him before resting. He found the door of the stable yard unlocked, and be remarked “That’s queer.” He then found the stable door half open, and lie exclaimed “We’ve been caught.” When .Spionkop was being saddled up lie broke into a cold sweat. It was then too late to mend matters, and the horse ran a lifeless race. Frank Bullock, riding in. the same race, saw something seriously wrong with Kpionkip’s flesh after the. race. ]'t was as hard as a brick. Gilpin, says the affair explains wliv certain bookmakers inexplicably changed the odds from 9 to 4 to 3 to 1. NOTABLE TRATNER DEAD. LONDON, Sejt, 12. Charles Archer, brother of Fred Archer is dead. Charles was a wellknown trainer and effected many coups notably Wallenstein’s Manchester Cup in 1883, when lie cleared £30,000 in bets.