TWO TURF SENSATIONS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 741, 14 August 1929, Page 1

TWO TURF SENSATIONS

Attempt to Tamper with Kaiti

INCIDENTS AT RICCARTON

(Special to THE SUN) CIIRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. E were two sensations at Riccarton this afternoon. I Lord Ranald, who had ruled a warm favourite for the (hand National Steeplechase, was withdrawn on the course. It Ind been all right over the week—end, but yesterday he revealed distinct signs of lameness, and acting on the advice (I. veterinary surgeon. his connections decided to scratch I‘m at the last minute. I The second incident was an attempt made by strangers to get possession of Kaiti, a. well-fancied Winter Cup candi- ) 3.1., before the race.

'mmnald’s four runaway vic—wst his only four starts over an ma brought him into such ”no. that. there is not the W doubt he would have been M for the Grand National We had he started. His w uquence of wins had stirred hm public, and he was re- ” u the season‘s wonder horse.

Tho Colours Donned w M; admirers were doomed to Wilma“. for the gelding failed .3311}: place in the field. Up till m Lord Rainald carried the m of his stable. Mrs. J. M], who trains the gelding for oil-known Ashburton sporting man, EL” J. Fechney, was confident ohat me would put. up a great race. 5...” W. Scoble, who had ridden ”in .n his victories. was most opW ”I! held the opinion that he mflmt be beaten. Just before the mvermbrought into the blrdcage Scale had the colours on and was lady to take the mount on Lord m but at the last minute the My surgeon. Mr. H. S. Kyle, in“ “Blast the gelding's run.gfl Ronald's ailment was diag-J n‘ and it was found that he was‘ m hon) gcute kidney trouble. .1! perhaps after all his connections‘ m the best procedure when they‘ W him to forgo his engagement. ‘ ,« The Kaiti Affair Mills most sensational incident ockund before the running of the Winter Cu. Enid, who was a. well fanced “for the Winter Cup, was brought tum his ltable to the course by a. Ihbb hand employed by trainer P. P. Nada. but as soon as the horse arrind on the course he was approached b two men. The. Its-angers attempted to enter Momvomtlon with the lad leading no. end after inquiring the name of “than. one olthem offered to lead. wielding. However. the stable lad, m auspicious. quickly refused M none-t.

Seeing that their endeavours to get possession of Kaiti were futile. one of the men later asked the stable boy to “come and have a drink.” Again. the invitation was met with a. refusal, but ultimately these strang—ers attempted to jostle the boy in charge, but the stable boy immediately led the horse away. and probably fearing that they would be detected, the men made off. Their excuse to lead the horse for the boy in charge. and their later invitation to the lad to have a drink was paltry from any angle, and their atti—tude toward the stable boy can only be regarded as having the sinister object of administering something to the horse so as to prevent his winning the cup. It is known that the double. Wiltshire and Kaiti, had been backed to Win large sums throughout the Dominion, and it is thought that Wiltshire's success in the Grand National Steeples may have been responsible for the strangers approaching the racehorse Kaiti.’ Trainer’s Premonition

Strange to relate. P. P. Neagle, the} trainer of Kaiti, had a. presentiment before the race that something might happen to Kaiti, so he lectured the boy in charge of the horse not to speak to anyone on. the course nor answer any questions put to him by strangers. 1n the Winter Cup Kaiti ran a sound race. He stumbled soon after the start. but he soon became balanced and though beaten out of a. place, his performance was a. creditable one in such a his field. But the endeavours of strangers, who are not known at present, to interfere with Kaiti will make owners and train—ers more careful than ever. It would have been a simple matter for the strangers who approached the horse to have injected a. hypodermic needle into Kaiti. The instrument is so small that it could be held in the hand Without being seen; but fortunately Kaiti’s attendant was wide awake. The whole occurrence is deeply deplored. It does not help to improve racing. but in future trainers will be doubly careful not to let their candidates out of sight prior to a. big race.