RACE GANGS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1029, 21 July 1930, Page 12

RACE GANGS

ACTIVITIES CURBED FOLLOWING NEW ZEALAND The orderly nature of New Zealand courses and the absence of the mricinal element is commented on by visitors to the Dominion in most favourable terms, and the position can only be fully appreciated by those who have had experience ofracing in Eng- ' land. Each year at the New Zealand Racing Conference this very satisfactory state of affairs is the subject for congratulatory remarks. In England a good deal has been done in recent years, as the following story shows, but the undesirable element is still in evidence on trains and the outskirts of races. One thing which surprised colonial visitors to English racecourses a few years ago was the latitude allowed the touch element on racecourses, states an exchange. A prominent English sporting writer took “the boys”—as they are called—to task in a London paper, and said it was time the Jockey Club curbed them. Critic Manhandled The “boys” resented his comments, and, taking the trouble to locate his private residence in the suburbs, waited for him, and so brutally assaulted him that he was tin hospital a long time. After that the Jockey Club had to take notice and established a police organisation which has broken up most of the gangs which terrorised racegoers and bookmakers. It is estimated that these blackmailers, bullies and thieves have been reduced by 80 per cent. About seven years ago the Jockey Club began its systematic cleansing of the turf. It engaged as its chief organiser a man of great police experience. lie has with him about half a dozen supervisors and a compamtively small clerical staff. The new organisation first turned its attention to “welsh-eleminated.” Inside Men When investigation was first set on foot it was discovered that some of tiie trouble was in the roots as well as in the branches. Certain gatemon, ring custodians and others were found to be making quite big sums of money by selling pitches to bookmakers, admitting known thieves to the rings, and of even levying blackmail on unsuspecting backers. One by one these men ■were found guilty and quietly removed. Now nearly all the men employed in responsible positions on English racecourses today may be accepted as of proved integrity and incorruptibility. The value and effectiveness of the new organisation was introduced. On the first day of the operation of the betting* machine at Newmarket last year thieves and pickpockets simply swarmed round the gates in the hope of reaping a fine harvest once they were inside. Not one of them was admitted, and seeing the game was up they returned to town. Raids On Trains Unfortunately, while such undesirables can be kept out of the ring, they cannot be barred from travelling in trains and other conveyances to race meetings. Card-sharping on race trains is undoubtedly on the increase. This is particularly true of the service to Newmarket. Scores of these crooks travel clown on “specials” .and loaf away the interval before the return journey in local hotels, but they dare not go near the course. About a couple of years ago, on a train between Liverpool and London, “the boys’* raided the iirst-class compartment when their occupants had gone to the dining-car and took everything portable in the way of suit-cases, field-glasses, and luggage of every kind. KALAKAUA PENALISED Press Association PALMERSTON N., Today. Kalakaua has been re-handicapped from 10.9 to 11.9 for the Hunt Cup at the winter meeting of the Manawatu Racing Club. WILL SEE CAULFIELD CUP Strephon’s owner, Mr. Sol Green, who is on holiday in England at present, is expected back in Australia in time to see the Caulfield Cup in October. This rather discounts the story published recently that this owner had designs on the Cesarewitch, which is also decided in October. -RACING FIXTURES JULY 26 South Canterbury Hunt. 31-August 2—Manawatu R.C. Winter. NEW SEASON AUGUST 2—Christchurch Hunt (Rlccartdn) Manawatu R.C. (second day). 77- p ,°. ver .ty Bay Hunt (Gisborne). I. 4 ', 16—Canterbury ,T.C. Grand Nat. 23—Pakuranga Hunt (Ellerslie). S awke ’ s Bay Hunt (Hastings). 27 Dannevirke R.C. 28— Dannevirke Hunt (Dannevirke). SEPTEMBER 6—Mar ton J.C. 6—Taranaki Hunt (New Plymouth). 6—Otago Hunt (Wingatui). 11, 13—Wanganui J.C. 20—Ashburton J.C. 20. 22—Avondale J.C. 25, 26—Geraldine R.C. 27—Hawke’s Bay J.C. OCTOBER 3, 4—Marlborough R.C. 4—Napier Park R.C, 4—Kurow J.C. 4. 6—Auckland R.C, 9, 11—Dunedin J.C. lt—Otaki Maori R.C. 16. IS—South Canterbury J.C. IS—Masterton R.C. 25, 27—Wellington R.C. 27—Waikato Hunt (Cambridge). 27—Waverley R.C. 27—Waipawa County. 27—North Canterbury R.C. 27, 29—Gore R.C. 30, Nov. I—Poverty Bay T.C.