DOPED.

Otaki Mail, 27 February 1922, Page 3

DOPED.

INJECTION OF COCAINE. .RACE AFTER THE RACE. Sensations on the Callaghan Park raeeeour.se are rare, but there were two on Saturday, and the same horse played a part in each. When the acceptors lor the fourth division were hoisted, the name of the three-year-old colt Keraf was amongst them. It was suddenly withdrawn. and there was speculation as to the cause. Sonic time hefore the stipendiary slewards had suspected that everything was not right, and the services of Plainclothes-Constable Salagari -were enlisted. Salagari saw a man doing something to Keraf and pounced on him. The man. who grave the name of Thomas Henry Tremble, was examined. As a result of the inquiry, the stewards declined to allow Keraf to start. When searched a needle and a bottle containing liquid was found on Tremble. In a written statement to the stewards Tremble said that he injected cocaine into Keraf's neck near the shoulder, because the horse was sore. He had no instructions to do this, but a man named A. Battison was present and knew what Tremble was doing. Tremble said he used the cocaine so that Keraf could race. The bottle found on him contained pure cocaine. Once it was known that Keraf had been doped allegations were made that in previous races a couple of horses had been tampered -with. Race For Home. The second sensation came when a man, stated to be the trainer, led Keraf out of his stall, jumped on him and raced bareback for the gate. A couple of men rushed for the gate too, and there was a scrimmage. Keraf almost 'came down, but the rider made a great recovery. The horse and the rider burst through the gate, and it looked as if they were going for the dividing fence near the river.

Two men went in hot pursuit, but could make no headway, owing to the heavy state of the roads. The rider turned the horse quickly and raced up among the motor-cars and along the river road to the Fitzroy Bridge. Shortly after a motor-car was soon speeding in the same direction. However, the pursuers were unsuccessful. The horse is now in the stable under lock and key. One of the pursuers, when seen afterwards, looked as if he had much the worse of the argument. It is alleged that a stirrup iron took a prominent part in deciding Blatters.