The Scratching of Grand Flaneur.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 931, 2 April 1881, Page 6

The Scratching of Grand Flaneur.

The Australasian refers in rather severe terms to the scratching of the above horse in the Australian Cup as follows :—All well-wishers of the turf must have witnessed with deep sorrow the ebullition of public indignation against the owner of Grand Flaneur on Saturday last at Flemington after that famous horse had won the Town Plate. After what took place on the Thursday, when the pen was put through Flaneur’s name shortly before the Australian Cup was run, we were prepared for further unpleasantness on the Saturday, and what we anticipated came to pass. Mr. Long, on making his appearance in the weighing-yard after Flaneur had won the Town Plate, was greeted with groans and hooting, not only by the occupants of the hill, but from a great many persons in the members’ reserve, and during the many years we have witnessed racing at Flemington we never remember so hostile a demonstration, and we trust never to witness such a scene again. From every point of view the circumstance is deeply to be regretted, and the more so in this case that Mr. Long is a visitor from a neighbouring Colony, and as the owner of one of the best horses ever foaled, it would be preferable that his name should be associated with pleasant reminiscenses of that horse’s career, and of his own reputation in connection with it.

Of course it is obvious that if there were no such .thing as betting it would be quite immaterial at what time horses were scratched for a race. But betting alters the whole aspect of the case. Now, Mr. Long is a betting man ; in fact, he bets heavily, and is a constant attendant at the Victorian Club, and he must have been well aware that public opinion had been strongly agitated on the subject’ of. Flaneur starting for the Australian Cup, and much anxiety manifested as to his intentions with regard to the horse’s running in that race. It was generally conceded that the horse had but to start to win. The uncertainty paralysed betting to a great extent, and when it was also generally credited, rightly or wrongly, that Mr. Long had an interest, in bets, in the running of Sweatmeat, public feeling was strongly excited against him. That the horse was fit and well was apparent to everyone, and the ease with which he won the Ledger only further enhanced his merits in general estimation. But Mr. Long very foolishly, we think, made no sign. Flaneur’s name remained on the list of starters for the Australian Cup until the last moment allowed by racing law ; then it was struck out, and it was made clear that all along Mr. Long’s interest in the race centered in another animal, not his own property. As we have remarked, from a racing law, Mr Long did no more than many other owners of horses have done previously and will do again, no doubt. But if they do, they must be prepared to brave public opinion and to expect similar hostile exhibitions of public feeling to that which Mr. Long experienced both on the Thursday and, in a more marked degree, on the Saturday. It is a penalty which all owners of horses must be prepared for when their tactics are of that crooked nature which unfortunately is only ioo common nowadays on the turf.