OUR LETTER BOX.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 4, 6 January 1904, Page 2

OUR LETTER BOX.

(Wo are at all times willing to publish correspondence on matters ol public interest, but it must be distinctly understood tliat we are not identified with the letters of our correspondents.—Ed. Daily News.) THAT HURDLE RACE. (To the Editor.) Sir,—l havo read Mr Samuel's letter at least u dozen tiine«, mid cannot see that it has much connection with 'the swindles perpetrated at the recent, race-meeting. Mi' Samuel will hardly acknowledge that amongst the largo numtlor of speotat ors pre. sent, were some who have had more experience of racing tiia.ii tla< «iutj»rity ot tiio stewards of the T.J.C. I am ot opinion that the two welter flaw; ofljllud i\>r iiii|iiiry l>y t.Me stewards equally so with the Second Hiirdtys, In tjlie -Kir-sit, Welter ,we saw Lurcher give 41b weight to Dawn Hoy and easily defeat him in Imin ;t:;::ecs for seven furlongs. Cuii any sane person say this was true running ? On the second day we saw Lurcher unable to make even a decent show in the Second Welter which was won by the crippled Ingt'.,?\vood in Imin SOsecs for u mile. lam sure that liawn Boy would haw won this {'vent with LI sitone up in less time with a different rider to the one who rode him the first day. The fact of the matter is this ; —Horse-racing has degenerated from The Sport of Kings " to that of small owners, not to say spielers, who are unable, from lack of means, I o run their horses honestly ; ergo, they resort to ways which are dark. The jockey clubs in England have the power, which they frequently exercise, to calj on an owner . who wins a race to explain hia horse's running at another meeting iierhaps a fortnight previously. I am sure the turf here would bu purer if horses, owners, and jockeys in the Second Hurdles luaKl Ix'vn suspended for life.—l am, etc., LUCKY PHAROS.