POOR OLD MR. MUGGINS!

NZ Truth, Issue 1192, 4 October 1928, Page 13

POOR OLD MR. MUGGINS!

On The Favorite Way and Then No Run Fot Money (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Auckland Bepreseritative.) If owiier%who have horses engaged m important events wish to retain popularity with double punters it would be wellifor them to withdraw their horses at the earliest possible moment. -

IT is 7 not cricket to allow ignorant punters to. practically fire their hard-earned cash into the sea. It is all very well to argue that an owner can please himself what he' does with his horse and that it is not legal to back . doubles. 'J ; . In reality there are few racing enthusiasts who do not occasionally have a tilt at a double.. Under this heading can be. included politicians, racing stewards and owners, besides the ordinary rank and file. Double betting is prevalent, and, that being so, owners with a conscience should endeavor tp lessen —by early scratching — the amount of money that is being fired away on .some' popular fancy. It .. is the common belief among double punters that unscrupulous tactics have been adopted by connections of different horses at times— that some owners have been m league with bookmakers to openly fleece a gullible public. ' ' ':. "N.Z. Truth" has to admit that on many occasions things have looked bad. ■-.- Early m this new season several late withdrawals of popular fancies have already taken place. Should this continue, it may be

necessary for . some tangible!'explanation to be forthcoming when a welibacked one, goes out. without excuse. . The state of the going, had most to do with late withdrawals at Avondale and Pakuranga. Still, iri one case, quite a lot of money was .spilt on a horse at short .odds which looked like surviving' the test had " he taken his place m among the moderate lot engaged. '.-'.'.' Tliere is no suggestion from .Tr uth" that any , tricks were played with the horse concerned. , Still, it would be well for some owners to realize th c ever - pa.ying public, which , keep the game going— and make reason- _____^_____« a hle stakes possible —desire that horses should not be accepted for when it is not intended to run them. '..'.-:-.. "Truth" is aware of cases m which the trainer was not to blame. He has had his horse ready; only to find that the owner has put the pen through thenaine. for some; unaccountable reason. \. -J ■' '■ Double betting precarious enough, without bettors haying to contend with temperamental owners. For f it must be temperament that is the 'main, cause — and reason— for some; withdrawals.