THE WAIRARAPA RACING SCANPAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 13, 14 January 1876, Page 2

THE W AIR A RAP A RACING SCANPAL.

(N. Z. Times, January 12 )

Concerning .the Wuirarapa rare scandal we have received a letter from Mr B. Derritt, .the trainer of Fishhook, in which he emphatically denies the truthfulness of the statementsot the Wairarapa Standard. He says Fishhook was given into his charge to race at the Wairarapa o i his merits, and it was considered an excellent chance from the fact that be met Korari on 7lbs better terms than when he ran Rim within half a length for the Christchurch Plate (2mins 44£ sees). He refers to the first day's racing to show that Korari on (hit day ran wide at the the turn at which be next day bolted, and he asserts, on the authority of Mr Kedwood, that the rider of Fishhook was a gentleman rider, inasmuch as ha hal not received money for riding In reference to the Jockey Club Plate, he sits:- "It must bo remembered Kirari pulled up lame after the Wairarapa Cup race, and more than this, it must have been quite clear to anyone who saw him race at Chri«tchurch or Wellington, that he was at Wairarapa at least Blbs below the form he was in either at Christchurch or Wellington. The frightfully bad state of the course generally, ana the rough and * tony places that appeared here and there leave no cauß 3 for wonder at a breakdowo. I saw Korari led out of his box the morning of the Jockey Clab Plate race. He was. then lame, and I then thought Fishhook's chance looked brighter than ever. Had Koran's friends been aware of this fact I don't think they would have been quite so sweet upon him. The fact is, Mr itedwood, who lam sure thought he could wia, for onea expected to > much of his little horse under trying circumstances. At noon on the day of the race, my orders to hia jockey were then given, namely, net to let Korari more than a length to two lengths away from him if he could possibly help it, but if Eorari did not make the pace fast he was to do to. The course being about a mile round, the start was from the front of the stand. I was at ■the start and drew 6econd place for Korari. The starter stood on the inside and I on the outside of the course, close to the julge's box, and at, the fa'l of the Sag I ran to the end ot the rails towards the distance p?st. I saw then to my surprise that Korari was quite eight lengths ahead, and therefore I started off for the qoarter-of-a-mile post, waving my hat as I ran, in order to beckon my own boy on; but, after great exertion, I cr uld not get nearer than eighty yards to the coarse, and then 1 saw Eorari bolt. Previou.ly, 1 could not see that Korari intended to bolt, as I was running broadside on to him. Fishhook was still being held; but I shouted out to the boy to let him go, which he did. Had I let the boy exercise his own judgment, I don't think Fishhook would have run off; but his bolting is easily accounted for by the strong temptation in front of him. Fishhook was very soon pulled on to the course again, and then went off at a steady pace ; but Korari, who had quite overpowered his jockey, ran against the racecourse gate, and the sudden stop was the cause of the jockey falling off. He was immediately put on again by Martin, Korari's trainer, who had been standing at the turn coming into the straight, and the horse was then cantered on to the course, ami again put at top pace but his chance of catshing Fishhook was hopeless, as Fishhook was by this time half a mile ahead. On Korari coming round the second time be made another determined bolt direct ior the stable, which is only about one hundred yards from the course. It is very tempting for a horse to bolt when running under difficulties aud being close pincbe i. Of my own character I hare little to Bay. But I may say I have been lidiDg for over seven years, and on nearly all' the courses in New Zealand, and have never had a protest entered against me. The statements made in the Wairarapa Standard are quite false. I was not lying down in the grass, nor did I chuck my bat up, nor was I the cause of Kornri's boiling. I bad not a shilling with Mr Redwood, direct or indirect, and lam prepared to prove that both horse* ran on their merits." These are the statements which Derritt makes, aud etill we think there should bs an c quiry. A newspaper controversy < will in no way tend to clear up the matter Both statements are before the stewards now, and they should make it their business to require proof as to which party is right. If they decline to lake the trouble, they will tail in their duty, and will not deserve to be entrusted with the management of another race meeting.