THE DEAD CERT!

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 144, 8 September 1927, Page 6

THE DEAD CERT!

RING’S GENTLE INNOCENCE SQUARING JOCKEYS TT was a cert., a monty, a gift, a cinch, an absolute moral —in brief, it couldn’t be beaten. The noble army of touts, the splendid company of whisperers and urgers, the glorious companionship of punters were in absolute accord. There never had been such a bet on a racecourse. You could put on your year’s salary or your house, or even your shirt, with complete confidence. On Friday the whole racing work became possessed of the faci that ai last an invincible horse had been discovered, says “Turfite” of the Sydnej “Sun.” The owners of other horses might have their doubts. Trainers ol other horses might hold differeni opinions, but the jockeys on the whole of the horses had decided that this one liorse would assuredly win, anc where jockeys agreed why should anj humble pursuer of easy money be t doubting Thomas? On Saturday morning every mar who follows racing rose blithely, cheerily, knowing that the day held golder opportunities for him. It did noi matter that it was the 13th of the month. These old superstitions don’l count when one has a really good thing On the racecourse the good news flev from mouth to mouth. There was ever exasperation because the hands of the clock appeared to lag and delay the gathering of the great harvest from the ring. There was not the slightes l question of the coup not succeeding for one, of the jockeys had actually written the name of the horse, ir strictest confidence, on a secret piece of paper, which he handed to a relative, who was on no account to mention it to anybody. MONEY POURED IN Came the race. And the usually wonderfully-informed ring was obtrusively ignorant of the destiny thai awaited one horse, and the joy which the great public was to share. A few

among the punters felt qualms abot getting-rich-quickly at the expense c the men who were so innocent of a that was happening. Money was shov died on. But the move the bookmaker pijt in their bags, or entered in thei books, the more eager they were t oblige their charming and graciou friends of the public. They could nc grow tired in well-doing, and some c their clients privately registered a that at some future date they woul reward the bookm ikers for fallin victim so easily. At-almost the last moment a punte I who has the habit of sleeping wit one eye open, and possessing an extr j sense which would have shamed eve 'astute Sherlock Holn.es, glided quietl j about the ring, and made one or tw j wagers in a deprecating manner, as : to say, T know he can’t win, but th unexpected might possibly happen. And when the race was finished h just as quietly collected. THE BITERS BITTEN And the ring went, about its busi ness without a grin or a taunt, an the great crowd of biters who ha been bitten were magnificently silen and one big fielder, getting off hi stand, said to another big fielder, th something which can best be repea te in a fable. The Gallant Crew of a life-savin station were about to launch their life boat for a spin along the coast whe they discovered, a little distance awa; a capsized vessel with a dozen me clinging to her keel. “We are fortu nate,” said the Gallant Crew, “to ha\ seen that in time our fate might hav been the same as theirs.” So the hauled the lifeboat back into its hous and were spared to the service of the country. Wherefore, let us rejoice that Moore field can provide us with such delect able entertainment, even if we do los our money. And let us suppress or feelings, and be glad that it is th only course upon which these thing happen, and that on its track alone d jockeys ride indifferently; and that o no other course and no other trac ( do any of these tremendous adventure occur. MUST BE REFORM f Seriously, a few more days lit; Saturday, and racing will not be save Ijy reform. That will arrive too iat'

n Revolution will overtake tbe s - t Kings. To every genuine rac - ri * h<jn e thusiast the time has arrived e there must be reform lest wo * y ! fall. At a recer . inquiry it was 0 f p, tically demonstrated that a gr< ir ! bookmakers were operating a” thtS ing jockeys to lose races. "J* pt y - win £3,000 they can afford V* | £I,OOO. But there has to ne le somehow, somewhere, ana s ir i and to the authorities may e I mended another 'able. inland ;s The King of the Far<^ a ' M * nhf ter o i appointed his horse me* tha£ n ! and bestrode a mar . O iservinff k under the new order of ™ ‘ eSßaß n is realm prospered an Aged » oUt (advised the King to turn , ‘ hron*i T o grass anrl put an ox on l M y-; Xo.” said the sovereign, t *°“** ed c , “a- good principle nay b r ‘ (ban injurious extreme. 3. j stops short of revolution-