TURF MORALITY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 54, 4 March 1879, Page 4

TURF MORALITY.

(New Zealander.) Until frceb blood is infused into racing matters by new owners, men who are commencing lo race beyond ring influences, there appears to be no hope of turf morality rising from the low ebb to which it has of late sunk. Not a month, hardly in fact a week, passes without Rome new racing ecandal coming to light. The moat discreditable of recent affairs is the blackmailing process tried in January at Rangitikei, and now so boldly attempted in Dunedin, Although not the first by a long way it ig the biggeet thing of the kiDd which has been tried during this seaeoc — a season noticeable, not for good racing at past meetings, but rattier for the rumors, thick as falleu leaves in autumn, of malpracties, each of more magnitude and impudence (ban its predecessor. Questionable turf transactions have, until lately, been passed over in silence and sorrow, but with the new year the last straw fell, the camel's back was broken, and the first Boot at Bweepa and their accompanying swindlers waß fired by a Wanganui contemporary. The indignantly rendered explanations of a well known racing man that he was an agent, and that the demands he had made on behalf of Maritana's ownerwere in accordance with usual turf practice, disclosed a state of affairs tending, not to allay the public's indignation, but rather to cause them to wish for further inquiry as to this class of transaction. After the exposure, it was thought that owners would have been a little more careful and a little leas graeping in their demands. That this is not co, evidence is only too plentiful; on the contrary, it would seem that emboldened by the manner in which this affair blew over, more shady transactions have been openly attempted. There aro many persons who think that the money of those who get their living by means of travelling from race meeting to race meeting bad more to do with the results of most of the events run at the recent Wellington and Wairarapa meetiogs than the quality of the horses engaged, or the men on their backs. A whisper comeß from Blenheim (hat a payment of some hundreds was made to prevent the favorite of the Marlborough Gup starting for that event. And the telegram from Dunedin which appeared in our yesterday's issue recounts an affair more bold, more grasping, than any yet tried. This telegram, added to our previous knowledge, can lead to but one conclusion, and that is that consultations, soirees, and all the other flimsy cloaks to avoid the name sweap are the bane of the New Zealand turf j and who can wonder at the conclusion or the fact who ecans the advertising columns of Southern papers, and observe the thousands which are through them staked upon even the one race, the Dunedin Cup. There appears to be no . hope of any effective alteration being made save through the infusion of new blood, The public will continue, without doubt to invest in the same free manner. Although money is said to be scarce, ifc seems always to be easily found for such purposes. The temptation to suddenly and easily procure a large sum is too much for ordinary minds Long suffering tradesmen may have to wait, but the pound or two is regularly sent, and at length, perhaps, a good horse is drawn. The drawer is immediately searched out by the vultures, who gain tbeir living in this manner, and has to give a proportion to insure a run for his money, so that after he has paid this, and ten per cent, to the enterprising publican who promoted the sweep, there is but a small proportion remaining for himself. The lack of morality is not only shown in regard to sweeps, but also, sad to say, in the case of the larger races at all the principal meetings of the Colony. For instance, one horse has within two months won two races for maidens, the entries for the latter of which closed after the winning ef the first event, and to add to the discredit of the aftair, it remains to add that the horse had won races during the previous year, and his owner paid some of those who knew this fact to refrain from giving information to the stewards of this fact. The printing of & " Turf Register" will go .some way to prevent similar occurrences in future. The coming of our new Governor leads to a hope that something will be done tending to raise the standard of morality, for, as it is well-known, be is an enthusiastic sportsman, racing solely for pleasure, and in the interest of good sport, never betting, and, of course, wholly beyond outside influences. Whether any horses are at first to come over appears doubtful, but there is no room for fear but that if they do not come with him they will not be far behind. Next season, at the farthest, should see an improved state of aifairs.