DOPING OF HORSES

Hokitika Guardian, 23 October 1930, Page 7

DOPING OF HORSES

ALARM IN MELBOURNE

SYDNEY, October 10

The doping of the racehorse Wise Force, at Fleinington last Saturday, caused a sensation in AUctorian turf circles. The drugging, and attempts at drugging, of prominent horses has become alarmingly frequent, and it i,as been suggested that a gang operating on behalf of somebody whose opinion is reflected in the betting ring has been at work. AVise Force is no moan performer, and it is significant that be has twice beaten the famous Amounts, who is within £2OOO (since beaten) of Gloaming’s famous stake record. Another exciting duel between the pair was expected last Saturday, but it was not to be. Amounts won as he liked, and AVise Force to the surprise of everyone—even those who know the difficulty of picking winners—was unplaced.

It was after the race when the trainer reported to the Stewards his suspicions that Wise Force had been doped. The jockey had found the horse very difficult to handle during the race, An examination was then made, and it was clear that the condition c/ the horse was abnormal. Symptoms of alkaloid poison were then discovered. It was recalled that when the betting on the race opened the price offered by the bookmakers for AVise Force and Amounis was about the same. After betting had been in progress ( V>r some minutes the quotation for Wise Force lengthened. It may certainly be said that the price offered was greater than was warranted by ;i.e public form of the horse,

. This is tbe third case within recent weeks of interference with prominent horses in Melbourne. Not long -go someone got to Kambull when that horse was being taken to Moonoe' Valley by train and when the ho» - se reached the course it could not be started. Following that incident an attempt was made to “nobble” Kentle who was favourite for the Grant National Steeplechase. The plans . miscarried because Kentle failed to reach the drugged thistle that had been placed in his srtall. .An attempt wis also made to interfere with the great jumper, Mosstrooper, on the eve of iis big races at the V.R.C. Winter Meeting. The watchfulness of a stable boy prevented a plan to break into his Stable in the dead of night on the eve of the race for which Mosstrooper was an outstanding favourite.

Owners and in Melbourne are greatly alarmed at the indication that a racecourse gang is operating. With the approach of the Melbourne Cup, special precautions will be takan and the stalls will be watched more closely than ever. The linking, of the gang with the operations of the bookmakers, as seemed to be the case li3t Saturday, has made the position doubly 'serious, nnd has recalled the “bad old days” when racecourse gangs did so much damage to prominent runners,