FORMAN FOOLS THE FICKLE FLATS.

NZ Truth, Issue 12, 16 November 1907, Page 2

FORMAN FOOLS THE FICKLE FLATS.

Full Rate Finishes First.

Last week I found it necessary to cn-nment on the- recent m and out running of the Wairarap-,a-owned Full Rate and to warn his connections tbat they would be getting into trouble. However, the warning had no effect, and one of the biggest swindles m the history of the Turf was perpetrated at the Taratahi meeting last week. Id thc Railway Handicap the first day Full Rate carried 9.7, and with Sunbonnet was selected by the public as the fijest of good things, but he was .easily beaten and finished out of a place. JuSt fancy the Criterion Handicap winner at the C.J.C. meeting and thc conqueror of Idealist, Fireiron, Muskcrry, Contender and many others being beaten by The Stake, G-awain and Aboriginal, and fancy their consummate cheek m coming, to light on the second day. The handicapper must have been deceived by the horse's showing on the first day, as he dropped him four pounds for running unplaced. Prior to the start of the Telegraph Handi^cap on the second day, it was freely stated that if Full Rate won he would 'be disqualified, and a few minutes before the start of thc race he was paying any price to win., but somebody must have got m and invested liberally on the machine, - as when the tapes were released he Was only paying four guineas. Needless to say. he won, .and won easily, and when he returned to the enclosure he was received with groans. Just think that Sid Reid, that youth of Whom everybody was wont to think would not do wrong, should be groaned at. But here is thc inconsistency of ■ the sporting public, as who would suggest that Reid was on his own m thc matter ? On their own" initiative, the Stewards held an enquiry into the matter, but like every nine out of ten of these > enquiries, it ended abortively, but Forman, Gravestock and Co. were lucky that they were on their own dunghill and the Stewards would be a bit with them. This journal is always an advocate of clean sport and is the only one that has the courage to. speak out, and such damnably dirty, diddling doings will always be deprecated with great violence m these columns.