ANOTHER RACING FIASCO.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 58, 12 March 1904, Page 2

ANOTHER RACING FIASCO.

sub-committee of the Jiell Illock sports must be complimented on its determination to keep down "shadr" practices, us instanced by the summary justice dealt out to a pedestrian on Thursday afternoon. There was not a shadow of doubt among ihe oliicials or the public who saw the miserable fiasco that Cupel made no atlempt to win the local handicap of three hundred yards. When about all the distance had been covered he was lorcing his way iulo a ulace, but bavins secured it apparently knew not what to do witli il, or bow to lose if. The easiest thing was to slop—and that is what lie seemed likely to do. lint then, changing hi H mind, he cantered along, watching the other men until only a few feel remained to be covered, and then he lan. !lut like another local ineideni, the stir over which is now subsiding, the scheming was too palpable nnii thi' "slinter" too clumsy to be overlooked. The judges immediately recommended an eiK|uiry, and the committee discussed the matter freely. One gentleman gave it as his opinion that the oOender was watching ]!osking, determined not to let him win at ien%" cost. A second said that this wus a "barefaced bit of work," and that the recent, racing scandal was "a fool to it." ]| e recommended that, Capel be disquulilied fur twelve months ; another, who saw the whole affair, had come to the firm conclusion that the man was not trying to win. I'nder these circumstances it is as well to ignore the wail of the few who happened to have backed Monk, and who. cunsi'iiuenlly, speak of the ollinals in no very polite or complimentary terms. Till' Committee owed a duty to Ihe public, and learlessly the.v discharged it. At nearly every meeting this crooked running goi s on, until it has become quite evident that the old theory of sport is being entir-'ly discarded. What !s now the main, object of many of our professional runners is to make money hy fair means or foul, and if it cannot be done l-y adhering to the rides of honesty and straight running, then questionable methods must be ndopted, for, as a spectator put it on Thursday, "they're after the shekels." It is a regrettable though an undisputed fact that "laurels" are nothing to many of the colonial athletes, and that they are willing to swindle th? public and degrade themselves time after time for the Bake of making a few wretched shillings.