A RACING INCIDENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLV, Issue 270, 31 December 1903, Page 2

A RACING INCIDENT.

In Wednesday mcnmnig's issue we the result of the lmrjiry by the stewards of the Taraniafci Jockey Club into the circumstances surrounding the running of Mbtuj-oa i haros and liananu in the Handicap Hurdles on tine second day of the CNbl's Christmas meeting on MonUay. Their disqualification of the rider of Arofuroa for two years will l>e generally approved by those who the dreadful f.asco. Unfortunately tflws ; S not the first glaring piece of nckory which has Ven H..th the lotnl racecourse. In fact am outaKlo bookmaker has been heard ever been tried here, and men Z i„ experience assure us tha 7 °L[T S wvi-so -has eoane i- tit not hv ng commended for conducting. S »„ exhaustive enquiry fls ttat tf T,,« the officmb of the club take *bm£ r«»rtate tim Mtf m p*KiS

our, and checkmate those who would endeavour to cast dishonour on the local fixture ? So long as sport is condticted properly, so long will it have public support. A contest between thoroughbred horses, trained to the hour, and ridden with judgment, is amongst our grandest und most ennobling forms of slpo-rt. The science of racing—or what is now termed such, ruuiviivg horses to win or lose as may suit the pocket of owner, trainer or jockey, without regard to the public whose money is iuivestud, and who expect an honest ruin for their money—this is too low to be termed bud, it is despicable. To prevent such occurrences is the duty of the stewards. Vigilance on their past is essential, and we hope to see more strict supervision in the future. This is the metropolitan club, and' a,s such must have the best meetings in the district. But if such ■(Shady racing is to 1 become the rule here instead of an exception, it is easy to see that other clubs whoso races are better ■ conducted, will secure the lion's share of the pati-omage. It is not often tJiat the public give vent to their opinions in such an unmistakable terms as on Monday, but the fact that they did so shows that the race was plainly a "put-up job." as far as they could judge, and in matters of thjs kind the public nearly always judge correctly. Whose fault it was, who the offenders, it is not our province to inBut jn the interests of true sport—the "sport of kings"—wo ask that steps be taken to prevent a recurrence of such an incident as this, which has set the whole colony talking awl protesting. ON THE FOURTH PAGE. Eastern War Claud. London's Latest. Fearful Balloon Voyage. Marriage and Divorce. A Waif of the Sea.