SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 75, 2 August 1873, Page 3

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

The following letter from Admiral Eons in re the *' Peeress ” disqualification, will be read with interest by our sporting friends here: —

“ To C. Elliot, Esq., Nelson, New Zealand. —Dear Sir, —Your letter of January 11 has just arrived. To your question, Is there any racing law in England justifying the Canterbury Jockey Club disqualifying Peeress from ever running again for any race in New Zealand, including the Metropolitan Handicap in which she was engaged ? —the judgment being grounded on the suspicion or fact that she was bought by the bookmakers, who had laid against her for the Cup, to rob the persons who had backed her, my answer is—There is no Racing Law in Europe to justify the verdict. The English Jockey Club can warn off every race-course the offenders in any outrage, but they cannot disqualify a horse unless he has fraudulently run, or been entered to run for any race under a false description. Therefore, by no existing law can a horse properly entered for a Plate, Cup, or Sweepstakes, be disqualified, unless he is named by or belongs to a defaulter; and no Turf Club can make a Rule to justify the proceedings of the Canterbury Jockey Club without violating the law which protects private property. Every man has a right to do what he pleases with his own, providid he is within the precincts of the law, and lam at a loss to comprehend by what rule the Canterbury Jockey Club disqualified Peeress for the Metropolitan Handicap. Out of evil good may arise. They will discourage betting, and teach the young men not to back a horse till his number is up. As I have known New Zealand as far as 1827, when I commanded the Rainbow, I am much interested in the Colony, and shall be happy to hear from yon whenever I can be of service.—l am, &c.,

H. J. Rous. 13, Berkeley Square, March 30, 1873.