NORTH OTAGO JOCKEY CLUB.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 304, 14 April 1877, Page 2

NORTH OTAGO JOCKEY CLUB.

A of the Committee of the rtf<»>vc GUm v.v..i JitrM last evening at the Kmi'U-o jfofu!. Tnwelv pr.sc-nt — Vice-President (in the »;h-vY). flr-m?. I>or>! v. Taylor, Sh.ii'i' l;:. f»:», Lintott, Longford, and (-•secretary). snxt."TK<. The imirtt s of fie previous meeting were fw.i arid continued. AC'.'Of XT.-". Account* in the amount of £2O-1 ISs. Gd. wcfß caused f»»r |>nymtrnt. % AITMr'ATIOX. Mr. S. Richmond wrote requesting that his protest ntoni v (L2) should be returned toltini. r,;:t hi* |>n h.st could not be held to le fi ivo!f>u?i. momy shosiEd he returned, a r;r.T. A kth r v/ns read from Mr. B. Curtis 1 ringing under the Committee's noise ? « bti which he Jiail made, and about which a tlisj-ittc had arisen, and asking t'[e Clu'o to express an opinion upon the mailer.—lt was decided that as the rules expics&ty stated that the Club did not vcrogiiise betting the Committee could not take any action in the matter. Tin: ir.snuooK case. Tire following letter was read from Mr. Sydney James, Secretary of the Dunedin Jockey Club : Dunedin Jockey C'lwb. Dunedin, -April 12, 1577. Sir.—l Sitj: to forward the following resoIntion, and would «Vel obliged bj' a reply thereto as early as pn-.-ihle : "That the Secretary write to the Sccretarv »i the S. O. T. C., and state that i lie Comnsiti-e of tlse JJuncdin Club have taken into consideration the ucei.-ion of the stewards of the >. O. I'. V. : bat bafore arriving at any decision a-f to endorsing the resolution sent them, would feel obliged for a copy of the evidence taken —would also wish to know

the greason Derritt, the rider of "Fishhook, was not disqualified ; and if any action was taken in the matter of inquiry as to any party or parties implicated in the same conspiracy." I am, &e., Sydney James, Sec. D.J.C.

Geo. Greenfield, Esq., See. N. O. T. C., Oamam. It was decided that the letter should lie on the table. The following letter from Mr. o'3leagher was also read : Oamnru, April 11, IS<7. The Secretary, 2s orth Otago Turf Club. Oainaru. Dear Sir, —I have been instructed by Sir. D. OT.ricn, the owner of the horse Fishhook, to request the Club to take some steps for re-consideration of the decision arrived at I>V the stewards. He is desirous of having the matter rigorously investigated, and also of being heard in his own defence, which consider is not an unreasonable request. Ke appears to think that Lynch law on the turf is as niueli to be deprecated as it is elsewhere, and that before punishment was inflicted on him lie should have been afforded an opportunity to speak in his defence. lie feels confident that if his request be granted, he will be able to exonerate liimseif from all blame in the matter, and should he fail, the Club will have the satisfaction of knowing that they have not refused that to which the most atrocious criminal is entitled a fair trial.—Yours truly, J. O'Meagiiei:. The Chairman said it would only be fair that O'Brien should be heard in his own behalf, and afiorded, if possible, an opportunity of clearing himself of the charge which had been preferred against him. Mr. Ronayne, while admitting that it would have been better if evidence had been taken in the first instance, did not see what good could come of re-opening the case. If they heard Mr. O'Brien's evidence it would not tend to alter the decision, for it was perfectly plain to everyone that the horse did not run for the money.

Mr. Lintott was in favour of re-open-ing the whole matter. It would only be according to common fairness and justice to O'Brien 'o grant his request, more especially as he said he could bi'ing evidence to prove his innocence. The Chairman said that if O'Brien could bring evidence to prove his innocence he should be given an opportunity of doing so. By so doing the Club would not bo committed to any particular line of action, but woidd be able to judge for themselves.

Mr. Robertson said that since the disqualification the stewards had unanimously agreed (o uphold their previous meeting. The Chaiuman begged to correct that statement. The stewards were not unanimous in the refusal to re-open the case. There certainly was a slight majority against doing so, simply because a few of tiic stewards were not present. For his part, he thought it was the duty of gentlemen allowing themselves to be appointed stewards to attend the meeting when such an important matter was to be brought forward. He himself was strongly in favour of re opening the matter, and had voted for it being done at the meeting of stewards.

Mr. i> unnxFiEr.n stated that lie had been requested to apologise to the meeting fox' absence .)f the President (Mr. Steward). He also said that both that- gentleman and Mr. Maude had expressed themselves in favour of re-opening the matter. Mr. Roxayne said that there was no one who felt more sorry for Mr. O'Brien than ho did at what had been don« ; but he still thought that the Committee should not upset the decision of the stewards, and take upon themselves the onus of disqualifying the horse. Mr." Lintott thought the Committee should take action in the matter, more especially as there seemed to be some doubt as to the correctness of the course taken by the stewards. Mr. (Jn.vxT was not of the same opinion as Mr. llonaync with regard to the running of the horse. Lie thought the horse had been run on his merits, and that the race had been lost through an error of judgment. Mr. rtocEiiT.sox did not think they were justified in again opening up the matter, a.s it' l.iid bc(j*i before the stewards, and tin y had declared the case closed. Mr. Roxayne said that lliey had elected a number of gentlemen as stewards, and hail entrusted them with the carrying out of certain duties. Those gentlemen had, he believed, performed those conscientiously, and it was not right for the Committee to step in and nullify what the stewards had done.

Mr. Dooley would like to know why the jockey had not been disqualified. Mr. Roxay>"K said that the stewards were of opinion that, by disqualifying the horse, sufficient had been done to meet the case. The stewards did not wish to be too rigorous in the matter, and that was the reason that no steps had been tali en with rc:;ard to the jockey. Mr. Lintott said it was .a most unheard of tiling at Home to disqualify a horse, and allow the owner and jockey to go free. Mr. Shatters pointed out that until O'Brien was heard, the} r could not tell whether he might not be able to shift the entire blame from himself on the shoulders of his jockey. Mr. lloxayxb said there was no one present who had a better feeling towards Mr. O'Brien than lie had ; but he wished to know how they were going to prove what Sir. O'Brien said was correct, if they did hear him. He would also like to know in what position the horse would be with regard to the Christchurch if they decided to keep the matter open. The Chairman said the Dunedin Club were apparently inclined to keep the matter open unless it could get some evidence. He thought it was only fair to give Sir. O'Brien a hearing. No evidence

had been taken by the stewards, who had arrived at a hasty conclusion. Mr. Robertson said the stewards were unanimous in their decision.

Mr. Shalders said that the stewards , could not be very unanimous, when three of them wished to have the matter reopened. Mr. Taylor thought it would be ail the better for Mr. O'Brien if the case were not re-opencd. The Chairman said that the evidence of tlie starter even had not been taken. He thought that the starter's evidence would have been of equally as great importance as the opinions of the twelve stewards who were on the stand. T.ie matter had been decided far too hastily ; in fact, the stewards took less time over the Fishhook case tnan they did over the Steamer afiair, which was a very trumpery matter. Sir. Lintott said that public opinion decidedly was, that the matter had been settled too hastily. Mr. Grant thought it was unjust and unfair to disqualify a man without his first being heard. Mr. Robertson said the pulling of t.ie horse was so plainly visible to the stewards, that they did not deem it necessary to call evidence. With regard to the letter from Mr. James, he must say that the North Otago Turf Club had always endorsed the decisions of the Dnriedm Jockey Club without asking for evidence, and he thought it showed a lack of courtesy on the part of the Dnnedin Club to require them to forward evidence. Mr. Grant pointed out that th->y were not dealing with Mr. James' letter, but as to whether or not O'Brien should have a hearing. He would move the following resolution in order that they might arrive at some decision: —"That Mr. O'Meagher's letter be received ill re Fishhook disqualification, and that the case be re-opened in order to give the owner (Mr. O'Brien) a fair hearing." Mr. Shalders briefly seconded the motion.

On the question being put, it was carried by six to two. The following was the voting : —For the motion—Messrs. Grant, Shalders, Taylor, Lintott, Longford, and Greenlield. ; against it —Messrs. Konavne and Robertson.

Mi-. O'Brien was then called, and the Chairman informed liim that the Committee had decided upon hearing him. Mr. O'Brien said : I have been connected with racing for the last ten years — both riding and racing, and I have never had anything brought against me, either with regard to running or a race, and have never been brought before the stewards of a course. I had not a shilling on the race against Fishhook, and have been a great loser by his not winning the race. Sly jockey has ridden a large mimber of races, and has never had anything brought against liiin. It is well known that Derritt always rides a waiting race. He has aUvaj's done so since he has been in my employ, and did so when riding for Mr. Redwood. I have known him on previous occasions wait too long before coming up to the othev horses, and lose the race in consequence. When he rode King P.'iilip on St. Andrew's Day, he got fully thirty lengths behind. X do not know that a bookmaker, immediately before the race, was ollVring G to 4 against Fishhook, although he had been the favourite the previous evening and that morning. I told Prince to back the horse, and I would go halves with him. Prince made two bets of LIOO with Snyder. My instructions to the jockey were to 'look out and get away with the other horses, and not to get too far behind. T have every confidence in Derritt, and, boyond the fact that he rode a waiting race, I saw nothing wrong about li ni. I was dissatisfied with the race ; but I took into consideration the fact that the time the race was done in was very fast, and that it could nut have been done quicker. I had bought the horse in a sweep, and had money on him. I am quite satisfied that the rider did his best, but I am not satisfied with the horse. He did not seem to me to get on his legs properly. It was not to be expected that the horse could go for the race right from the start, after running another nice the same day. If a a horse has a big weight upon him, he cannot go the same pace all through. I did not notice the horse go up to the other horses, and then fall behind suspiciously. I could see from the start that the horse was not going as he should do. I thought there was something wrong with him, and remarked to a friend whom I had induced to back the horse that he was not going properly. It is a common thing for horses to run strangely. Horses are not always in the same condition, just the same as with men. They may be all right one day and just the reverse the next. My reason for scratching Fishhook the first day was that I had backed Templeton to win, and I thought that if I scratched my horse he would have a better chance of winning some of the other races, and that I might get him in at a lighter weight the second day. I was not satisfied at the way Derrit role, and spoke to him about it when he came in. He said he could not get the horse to go, and that he thought the other horses would fall back to him. It was not usual for Fishhook to run two or three races a-day. The time in winch the race was run was lmin. 45sec., and was very fast ; and any horse that could do it in less time would be able to beat anything in the Colony. I do not think that the jockey had been "got at," and if I thought so I would discharge him. I could bring Prince, who I instructed to back the horse for me, and the man from whom I bought the horse in the sweep to show that I was interested in the horse winning. I do not know anyone in Oamaru with, whom Prince laid money. It is not usual for my jockeys to wear spurs, and I do not think that either spurs or a whip would have made any difference in the 1

race. I stood to win £l5O besides a £75 speep, if the horse had won the race. I had a conversation with Mr. Redwood on the first day, and with Mr. Delamain on the second day. There was no bookmaker near us, as has been stated. It is customary for the owners of horses to talk to each other about the races. lam satisfied that the horse did his best. I had nothing to gain by pulling the horse, as the weights for the Cliristchurch handicaps wore out, and it would make no difference to his weight whether he won or lost. _ I had not a penny to gain by acting dishonestly. If the Committee decides to re-open the case, I would be prepared to bring Derritt before the Connnittee after the Cliristchurch races are over. _ I could not do so before then, as he is now in Cliristchurch with the horses. I have never, during my ten years' racing experience in Australia and New Zealand, had anything brought against me, although I have had far greater temptations for i doing so than oil the present occasion. I am perfectly satisfied, if the Committee can prove that I have done wrong, to have the horse disqualified. Mr. O'Brien then withdrew, and a lengthy and irregular discussion took place as to whether or not any further evidence should be taken. Eventually Mr. Lintott proposed—"That the matter be adjourned until M!onday, in order that an opportunity may be afforded for hearing the opinions of the stewards, as far as possible, upon the statement of Mr. O'Brien, and to get any further evidence that may be forthcoming." Mr. ItoßEiiT.sox seconded the motion. Mr. Taylor proposed as an amendment—" That the decision of the stewards' be adhered to, and that the Secretary be requested to forward the evidence given by Mr. O'Brien to the Secretaries of the Dunedin and Ouristchurcli Clubs, foi tliem to judge for themselves in the case. Mi\Ta.onaynb seconded the amendment. On the question being put, the amendment was negatived, and the original motion carried. The meeting then adjourned until Monday evening, at seven o'clock.