SPORTING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 24, 2 June 1913, Page 2

SPORTING.

ALLEGED "CROOK" RACING. [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press Association,) London, May 31. During Wootton's appeal to the Court, in connection with. the action for libel.he is,bringing against Robert Siever, owner of Winning Post, fuller particulars were given by Siever in his statement of defence. Wootton's counsel mentioned that the substance of the libel consisted of accusing Wootton and other trainers of conspiring to decide the winning and losing of races, and stated that Wootton directed, his son and 1 * other apprentices to pull horses that were not backed by Wootton, and that the latter also ran half-trained horses , when he ,did not want them to win. AUCKLAND RACES. Auckland, June 1. The totalisator handled £28,916 as against £20.477 for the first, day last year. Additional results to those published on Saturday are:— Hunt Club Hurdles, of 125 sovs; 2 miles.—9 Goldborno 10.9, 1; 1 Tim Doolan 10.0, 2; 2 Sky High 11.4, 3. Won by three lengths, the third horse two lengths away. Time, 4min 3sec. Members' Handicap, of 275 sovs; 5 furlongs.—4 J. George's Crown Pearl, 10.9, 1; 2 Powder Fox, 8.1, 2; 3 Booth, 9.9, 3. Won by two lengths. Time, lmin 32sec.

Following are the principal winning owners at the Wanganui meeting:— J. Cameron £775, J. R. L. Stanford £250, A. J. Lambess £2OO, A. Alexander £175, H. Raynor £1U0; T. P. Nolan £l5O, J. Harlo £145, and Boss Allan £125.

Under the heading "a promising hurdler," Phaeton, in the Auckland Weekly News, refers as follows to the Straiford-owned horse Bercola:—"Bevcola, |who silenced the opposition in the Century Hurdle Race at Wanganui, furnishes a good illustration that

it pays at times to be patient with a horse. The Officer's son was practically of little use up to this season, 'for a j paltry hack handicap was his sole earnings up to entering on tins season's racing at seven years old. A victory which Bercola scored under 10st 8H) in the Kildare Hurdle Race at the C.J.C. Autumn Meeting evidently impressed Mr J..E. Henrys, for he awarded the chestnut gelding list 131 b when he came to handicap him for the Peerswick Hurdle Race, run on the succeeding day. In casting the weights for the Century Hurdle Race, Mr G. Morse considered the case met in connection with the Wanganui race by awarding the son of The Officer lOst 21b. It does not apparently require much space to give the history of the Wanganui race, for Bercola is stated to have been first away, and, fencing well, ttQ won by a length and a-half from St. Kevin (to tvhom he was conceding 111 b) in 4min 2Qsec. Bercola is referred to as a promising hurdler, but, if we are to accept what is claimed for him, The Officer's son will be found quite at home when he is sot. to contest a crosscountry event."