NORTH OTAGO TURF CLUB.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 306, 17 April 1877, Page 2

NORTH OTAGO TURF CLUB.

T!ic adjourned meeting of the Committee of the above Club was held last evening at the Empire Hotel. There were presj-it : Messrs. Steward, president (in tho chair) ; L'.imsden, Robertson, Jlonayne, Shalders, Lmgford, Taylor, Grant, Biacksley, and Greenfield (secretary). MIXUTE3. T:.e minutes of the previous meeting were lvad and coniirmed. t:ie FisnuooK cash. Tiie Secretary read the following telegram and letters : Chriitehurch, Ap-il IG. Seeing } r ou are to reconsider ihe FiihhooTi cue, [ stdl h-jld thit Fishhook is justly dis(priliri2 I, and protest, as a steward, against t!u disiualiacatiou being taken off. M. Studjiolme. Mr. Greenfield, Secretary Oaaiaru Eaces. Christchureh, April 14, 1877. gm.—T have to iufonn you that, at a m-etingof the C.J.C. held to-day, the following resolution was passed:—"That the C.J.'f en lorse tho action of the N.O.T.C in r.-fcrenjc to the disqualification of Fishhook. *' ■ t\v;n also resolved. " That the Secretary i>e instructed to write to theSec-reta>y of the N.O.T.C, the jockey of Fishhook l.c not disqualified as well as the horse." —I am, &c, Fr.ED. DrvßY, Sec. C.J.C. G. Greenfield, Esr., Secretary N.W. T.C. Timaru, April 12, 1577. SfR, —I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your memo, of the 7th, re disqualilication of Fishhook. I have to request that you will furnish us with the evidence and pariiculars of the same, as we cannot understand on what grounds the jockey Derritt is not noticed in the same manner as the owner. By letting me have the,above information by the 23rd, when a meeting of the Club will be held, you will oblige.—Yours, ic, * Robert Stansell, Hon. Sec. S.C.J.C. To G. Greenfield, Esq., Secretary N.O.T.C.

The President then said that they had met for the purpose of considering the Fishhook case. It would be necessary that they should come to some decision in order that the Secretary might be able to reply to the several letters from other Clubs.

Mr. Lumsdex said that if the Committee was satisfied with the decision of the stewards re the disqualification of the iiorse, he thought it would be quite within their power to disqualify the jockey Derritt. The stewards should certainly have done so in the first instance. The President said it'had been proposed, at the meeting of stewards on "the course, to disqualify the horsj, the owner, and tae jockey; but the question was argued out, and jjb was eventually agreed that the justice of the case would be met by simply the horse.

Mr. Ltoisden thought it a strange proceeding on the part of the stewards to allow a jockey to continue to ride whom they were satisfied had acted dishonestly.

Mr. Grant was not-sure whether the Committee "bad the power to disqualify Derritt now, though he certainly thought that if the horse was to be disqualified, the jockey should also be punished. Mr. Rokayne said lie was certain that the Committee had the power to deal with the jockey. Still, he thought 't was well to lean to the side of mercy, arid this was the reason which actuated the Stewards in not dealing with Derritt. The President said the Stewards had been unanimous with regard to the disqualification of the horse, and had discussed tiie advisability of disqualifying the riiler. It was, however, thought that the disqaaliae itioii of the horse was a severe punishment, and it was decided to let the jockey oil', more especially as it was thought that in acting as he ha.l done the jockey wa3 merely obeying orders. Mr. 110B3HT30N' said t'.iat, when lie made | his statement before tie Committee, O'Brien had said that Derritt always rode a waiting race. He (the speaker) had since referred to the papers, and found that this statement was not true as regarded some of tie rac.s in Duaedm, where Derritt Jiad actually taken the horse to t!ie front from the start. Mr. LuiiJDEN was of opinion that O'Brien was not in the swindle! at all. Mr. Giizzszihd agreed wi:h last speaker. Mr. Loscfoud could not see how any man i.n t e Stand c jiilcl swear that tiie cirse had been puil.d. He would not like to do so himself. Mr. UoisniTsoN J ad no hesitation in a.lii-ming tnat tie horse had been pulled. After some further discussion, Mr. Tayloii moved—"Tnat the decision of the stewards re Fishhook disqualification be ad.iered to." Mr. IIOBiJUT.iOX seconded the motion. Mr. (Juast moved as an amendment — ■''That the disqualification be removed entirely." Mr." Siialdse:; seconded the amendment. On the question being put, the amendment was lost by four to enree, the votes being—for the amendment Messrs. Grant, Shaiders, and L mgford ; against it, Messrs. Taylor, Ronayiie, Robertson, and Donley. Toe original motion for the maintaining of ihe disqualification, was the.i put and carried by four to three, the names of those voting being-for the motion, Messrs. Taylor, Robertson, Itonayne, and Dooley ; against it, M.ssis. Longford, Grant, and Shaiders. Mr. Taylou tiien moved—"That the Committee, after enquiring into the matter, are of opinion mat Derr.tt, Fishhook's jockey, was at least equally to blame with the owner, and should share in the punishm nfc, and accordingly resolve that he be disqualified to ride on the Oamaru coarse, during the pleasure of the Club." Mr. Dooley seconded the motion. Mr. ItoxAVNB proposed as an amendmeni —"Tuafc t..e OommLtee do not proceed furtlier than the stewards have done in the matter." Mr. Shaldeiis seconded, the amendment. On being put, the amendment was negatived by rive to tnree. Toe following was the voting : For tie motion —Messrs. Ronayiie, Soaiders, and Grant. Against it—Messrs. Robertson, Taylor, Dooley, Longford, and Blaeksley. _ ' The motion was then pat, and carried bv ove to t r.e, t:.at Derritt should be disqualified from riding during the pleasure of the Club. Tiie voting was : For the motion—Messrs. Taylor, Robertson, Doolev, Blaeksley, and Longford. Against it—Messrs. Ronayne, Shaiders, and Grant. On ti.e siigg-s;ion of the President, it was rtsolved, "That the Secretary write to the Secretary of the D.J.C. and the Secretary of the C.J.C., informing th mi chat at the meeting held in the Stewards' room, at the Course, after the race, all the Stewards, with tiie exception of Mr. M'M ister, being present, it was the unanimous testimony of the Judge and Stewards that F : sh';oo!c had been deliberately pulled, and the meeting then proceeded to consider how tiie oiienee s muld be punis ed It was, after d.scnssion, held chat.it was useless to examine t le jockey and owntr, with a view of deciding wi.icli was in fault, as each would naturally shift tie blame on t :e otoer. Toe meeting took into consideration tie advisability of disqualifying both parties, but eventually resolved lhat the" disqualification of the horse would be sufficient punishment, and they disqualified the horse accordingly. SubsequL-ntlv, at the request of Mr. O'Brien, the Committee of the Club gave, him an opportunity of making a statement, which is herewith enclosed ; but the Committee being of opinion that there is nothing in the said statement to justify them in reversing the action of the stewards as regards the disqualification of Fishhook, resolved that their 'action be sustained ; but being further of opinion that Perritt Fishhook's jockey, was at least equally to blame with the owner, aud should share in the punishment, accordingly r-solved t! at he be disqualified to ride on the Oamaru Cours j during the pleasure of the Club."

The meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to tl;e Chairman.