A TURF SCANDAL IN THE WAIRARAPA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 226, 8 January 1876, Page 10

A TURF SCANDAL IN THE WAIRARAPA.

Commenting on the result of the Jockey Club Plate, run for at the Wairarapa meeting, the Wairarapa Standard says : 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 of the bookmaking element from their annual meeting. But although in its usual form it was apparent in the saddling paddock, yet its effect was 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 the matter to which we are about to refer. No language that we can use is strong enough to express the indignation and contempt that was visible when the circumstances became known. We are quite sure that the facts 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 were five entries, but the owners of Premier, Princess Mary, and Little Wonder were quite full of Korari, 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 81bs. and covered the distance in 3min. 441-sec., which time has we believe very rarely been beaten this side of the line by a three-year-old, the public were led to expect a good race. We may here remark that ever since the arrival of these ci’acks 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 at every conceivable corner, so that if foul play was meant the parties stood a 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 around the corner into the straight, Derritt, who was lying down inside of the course, jumped up, threw his hat up, and frightened Korari off the course, Fishhook following him. The facts are so barefaced and annoying, that we have scarcely patience to pen them. Korari’s jockey rolled off ; he was not thrown off. There were people who were within a few yards of him who will tell anyone that he rolled off like a bag of sand. Korari was immediately caught, and the boy put on, but instead of malting the best of his time in order to catch Fishhook, he walked leisurely along till he got on the course, and then essayed to catch Fishhook, who was by this time nearly half a mile a-head, letting the colt again get off at the top turn, in order to make it appear that the first was a genuine vote. There are other things yet to mention that will cause our readers to open their eyes. When the boy on Fishhook got him on the course 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 not have been the case had he not known Korari would not commence until the chance 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 the turn into the straight is rather abrupt, and the terrific pace he was going would prevent a youngster hugging the posts round an awkward turn. Next comes, in our opinion, the clencher. This man Derritt who frightened Korari off is the man 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, the 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, and does not know what made Korari bolt. Do the stewards know that this boy’s word is not worth the breath he speaks with ? He told them also that he never had received money for riding, and was on that account allowed to ride Fishhook for the Ladies’ Purse as a gentleman rider, when we know a man who paid him {and vjc save it) two pounds as a winning mount for 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 the Ladies’ Purse. What are we to think ? The gate keeper told the stewards that he saw Derritt frighten Korari off. Two policemen 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 had 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, it will be soon known, and the question will be, not what will be permitted, but what will not ? Whatever the stewards may say, the public know full well that, so far as seeing fair play in the carrying out of the programme is concerned, their power has practically no limit ; and so it ought to be. They have power to disqualify both Derritt and Fishhook, and to get Derritt disqualified on 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 sentence possible. If it came to law Wairarapa would

back them as a body; but they will go alone if they pay public money away where the facts are so plain. We leave the affair here, hoping for the sake of the Wairarapa Jockey Club that they will not cause this blot to rest upon us.