A TURF SCANDAL IN THE WAIRARAPA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 9, 11 January 1876, Page 4

A TURF SCANDAL IN THE WAIRARAPA.

Commenting^ on the resul t- of the Jockey Club Plate, run . for at the Wairarapa meeting; the Wairarapa Standard eayi:-**— ' We wish it had: been. a. walk, over, as most people expected. We fully anticipated being able" to congratulate the Wairarapa people on the entire absence. rof.' the bookmaking element from their .annual meeting.' : But although in its], usual form;, it was apparent in the saddling paddock, yet its effects were felt to the utter disgust of every man who likes to" see fair play. We feel heartily; sorry that it occurred; but 'stern duty compels us '■ to publish and condemn ihe matter to which we are about to refer.. IjJo language, that we can use is strong enough to express the indjgnation and contempt that was visible when the circumstances became known. We are quite sure that the faots only require publishing; and will' confess ourself mistaken if the Wairarapa public do not speak out in a way that will convince the stewards that they ought to move in the matter. There v/ere five entries, but the owners of Premier, Princess Mary, and Little Wonder : i were quite * full of Koran, Fishhook being the only one left, in that was likely to be able to race Mr ■Redwood's colt. Fishhook met Korari at a difference of lOlbs; and as they had met before in Canterbury at a difference of only Slbs, and covered the dietance in 3mins 44J sees., which time has we beliey.e very rarely. been beaten this side of the line by 1 a three year old, tbe publio were led to expect a good race. We may here remark that ever since. ihe arrival of these cracks.there has been more or less a suspicion that they would not go on their merits,' and, as this distrust had gained weight > every day, there were people 1 at every conceivable corner, so that if foul play, was meant the parties stood p yery fair chance of being bowled out. And so they were. The starter, sent them away to a fair start, Korari as. usual going to the front hard held. As they came round the corner into'' thy straight, . Derr itt, who was lying down, inside the course, jumped' up, threw his hat up, and frightened Koran pf| the course. Fishhook following him. The facts are so barefaced and annoying, that we have lircely patience to pen them. Koran's ikey rolled off; he was not thrown . There were people who were thin a few yards of him who will.. I anyone that he rolled off like a bag sand. Korari was immediately: ight, and theboy put on, but instead making the best of his time to ioh Fishhook, be walked leisurely mg till he got on the course, i then essayed . to catch Fishok; who was' by; this time nearly If .-a mile ahead,; letting the colt ajri. get off '. at* the top turn, in lei; to make it appear that the first s a genuine bolt. There are other .ngs.yet to mention that will cause r readers to open their eyes.. When . boy on Fishhook got him on the irse he went cantering leisurely along and instead of putting as much ground between him and 'Korari as possible, he went by the stand at a canter, which would hot have been the case had he not known Korari would not.commence until (bechance of catching Fishhook was quite hopeless. Then again, Korari on the previous day went as true as steel for the Wairarapa Stakes, which event was three times round. We admit he went wide at the top corner, but it was to be expected, as tbe turn into the straight is rather abrupt, and the terrific pace he was going would prevent a youngster hugging the poßts round an awkward turn. Next comes, in our .opinion, the clincher. This man Derritt who frightened Korari off is the ; oaan , who is in charge of Fishhook' — his trainer in fact. Had it been a drunken man, or a stranger to the horse, the matter would not look so bad. But when the person who does this scandalous thing is the trainer or person in charge of the only horse that was opposed to the horse he frightened off, ; tbft ; stewards refuse to take the least notice of the affair. And why? Let everybody know it. Because the boy who rode Korari made no protest. In fact he says that he did not see Derritt at, all, apd does not know what made Korari bolt. Do. the stewards know that this boy's word iB not worth the breath he speaks with? He told them also that he never bad received money for riding, and was on that account allowed to ride Fishhook for the Ladies' Purse as a gentleman rider, when toe know a man who paid him (and we saw it) two pounds as a j winning mount tor riding Raupo for the Gate Purse at Waihenga, and yet tbey have refused to entertain a.protest, that was lodged against Fishhook getting the money for tbe Ladies' Purse. What are we to think ? The gate keeper told the stewards that he saw Derritt frighten Korari off. Two ; polwemen also , saw it, and told them so, as also did other people, and yet we heard the moving spirit of the club tell a man that no notice could be taken, because the owner or jockey of the other horse bad not lodged a protest. The time will surely come when such conduct will bring its own reward. If this is the way racing is to be managed here, i I: will be soon, known, and the question will be, hot, what will be permitted, but what will not ? Whatever the stewards caay say, the public know f u|l well that, : so far as seeing fair play in the carrying ou J of the programme

is concerned, their power has practically no limit; and so it ought to be. Shey have power to disqualify both errittjirtd Fishhook, and to get Der r ritt disqualified 00 every course in the colony. . See how. the Canterbury club acted in the Peeress case, which action our club endorsed. And what is to prevent our club acting where they apparently have evidence to warrant,, them in passing the heaviest sentenpe possible. If it came to law, Wairarapa; w^ould back them bb a body; but they will go alone if tbey pay public moniy away where the facts are so. plain. We; leave the affair here, hoping for the sake of the Wairarapa Jockey Club ttjat, tbey will not cause this blot to rest upon us.