RACING ROGUERIES. Artful Dodges by Which Some Grant. Horses Have Been Ruined.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 189, 29 January 1887, Page 2

RACING ROGUERIES. Artful Dodges by Which Some Grant. Horses Have Been Ruined.

About half a century ago, at Newmarkets, several horses who fctood high in the betting at different times suddenly went off sick just before the race tor, which they were entered ; some died, others recovered, but all were disabled for the time being, and favourites that a few hours previously outstripped every rival would come straggling yards behind the field. Every one knew they had been *• nobbled," but for a long time the perpetrator remained undiscovered ; at last, however, a notorious scoundrel, one Dan Dawsoia, was caught red-handed poisoning the troughs During the trial it came out tihat) he had made a regular trade of these nefarious practices, and it was more than sußpectsd that not a few of the biggest men on the turf were his employers. But although he was condemned to death, whether from the hope that some among his influential patrons would intercede for a reprieve or from that hatred which certain men of his class have against •'. peaohmg," he never betrayed them, and remained silent to the end. The most minute precaution* are taken to guard the racehorse from such dangers, yet the cunning and daring of hia enemies frequently prove more than a match for the care of hia owners. In 1842 Lanercost was regarded as the certain victor for the Ascot cup. While ha was being conveyed to the course in a van the grooms in charge stopped at an inp between Leatherhead and Sunninghill to re* fresh, leaving one to keep watch. Juat after they had gone into the house two sailors came out of it. " Hillo," cried one, " here ; 8 Lanercost ; let's have a peep at him," and he sprang up on the side of the van, while his companion at. the same time diverted the attention of the man on guard. A moment afterwards the firat jumped down again, and then the two dibappeared in a copse. It was all done so quickly that the groom had no time to interpose* and before he could summon his mates the men were out of eight. When the race came on, instead of achieving the victory, poot Lanercost ca:ne in last. In the course of tho ensuing mouth he entirely change colour, and was never fit to run again. There is no doubt that the pretended sailor had contrived to administer some powerful drug to the animal during thefew seconds he hung over his box. Somewhere about the same time a horse named Marcus was the favourite for the Sfc» Leger. The day before tho race, whilo he and some other horses were standing at the Don caster Arms, an ill-looking fellow entered the kifchen of that tavern and seated himself boside a boiler from which the stable lads were every now and then drawing water for their charges. There waa no one in the kitchen save a maid servant, whom the stranger sent out to bring him a pot of % beer. When phe returned the girl was going to fill her tea kettle from the boiler, but the fellow stoppod her by eaying, " I wouldn't take my tea water from there if I was you» it looks so yellow and greasy." " All right; I'll get it outside," she answered When she came back the second time the man had gone. The next morning two horses were found dead in their stalls ; while Marcus, who was just able to run, came in last, and also died during the day. Upon the bodies being opened arsenic wa9 found in their stomachs. The girl then remembered the incident of the loafer, who had, no doubt, poisoned the water in the copper, and had she been as stubborn as most of her kind, several human victim* would have been added to the equine list. By the defeat of Marcus, the owner of a horse named Chorister won £7,000.