SPORTING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 12, 6 September 1912, Page 8

SPORTING.

THE ROVER CASE

(Per Press Association A

Christchurch, September 4

Tlic adjourned meeting of stewards of the Canterbury Jockey Club to inquire into the facts surrounding the s matching of The Hover for the Grand National Hurdle race took place tonight. Their finding is as follows : “The stewards find that The Rover was entered and fully paid up for the New Zealand Grand Nationl Hurdle race, 1912. The horse was lit and well on the day of the race, and was backed heavily by the public, being laid against in an unwarrantable manner. The horse was scratched at 11.45 on the day the Grand National Hurdle race was to be run by Harl, acting on an undated authority signed by Wright, lessee of the horse. No notice or intimation had beam received teat the horse was to he scratched by cither Price, the man in charge of the horse, or the secretary of the club.

“The lessee, having raced the horse without success on the Hat during the greater part of his lease of one year, induced the lessor about June last to waive the condition in the lease that the horse was not to he raced over hurdles, and then entered him for the Grand National Hurdles and schooled and prepared him to run in it, and

according to the evidence of Price, acting on instructions from Wright, the horse jumped over hurdles on the morning of the day the race was to ho run.

“On the running of The Rover in the Jumpers’ Flat race on the first day of the meeting, the horse seemed to have an excellent chance of winning the Grand National Hurdles. Questioned hj the stewards as to why The Rover was scratched for the race at 11. Jo on the day the race was to he run, Wright, the lessee, gave as his reasons that he was afraid of injuring the horse and hoped to get a further lease of him from September 30tih, 1912.

“The reasons given for the scrato ing of The Rover, taken in conjunction with the state of the betting market, satisfied the stewards that Wright, the lessee, is guilty of corrupt pract.ee within the meaning of the Rules of Racing in so scratching the horse, and they have disqualified him for a term of two years.

“The stewards would like to add that in coining to #kis decision they recognise that if the betting public would adhere to the law by not betting with bookmakers, the case would not have arisen, because no betting would then take place until the totalisator opened.” Several “good things” came undone at the Marten meeting, and the successes of favourite were not numerous. Ngntimaru won the Marion Handicap, wlt’n Sir Tristram second, both returning good prices. Kilrain, the favourite, was unlucky and finished close up fourth. Kelp won the Hack Steeples, with Rangitine second, the fast but blundersome Hakari breaking his neck. Tn the Welter, Blend succeeded in defeating a warm favourite in Sir Laddo, who was coupled with Serenity.

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