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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IV, Issue 79, 6 April 1869, Page 2

Hokitika. — There appears to be a large amount of dissatisfaction express. 1 at Hokitika at the result of the race for the Westland Handicap, which it is snid might have been easily won by Flying Jib as he was "only kept back through the most strenuous efforts of his rider." The papers are furious about it, and are anything but complimentary in tbeir remarks ou the conduct of Mr Gar forth, the owner of Backbiter, the winning horse, who was also one of the stewards of the races; the posting of the rider of Flying Jib throughout the colony is also spoken of, aud altogether there seems to be a pretty little scandal over the affair. Mr Garforth has published a challenge to Flying Jib to race him for 100/ in a week's time, hut as the Hokitika News says, this proves nothing, for "even if Backbiter — should the challenge be accepted, which is extremely problematical — beat its opponent, that would be no proof, that it would not have won the Westland handicap.