FEES ON RACEHORSES.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 February 1920, Page 3

FEES ON RACEHORSES.

JtfcGINTY T. LAURENT, The claim of Edward McGinty. publican, New Plymouth (Mr. C. H. Croker), (igainst Edward A. Laurent, farmer, Waitara (Mr. C. H. Weston) for £ls for fees paid 011 racehorses leased from R. (2, Laurent by plaintiff, in respect to engagements for which they were entered at tlie time of plaintiff taking them over, was continued in the New Plymouth Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr. T. A- B. Bailey, S.M.

Evidence was given by Rudolph E. Laurent to the eflject that he had bred, and also owned the two mares, Staccato and Haversack, which were leased to plaintiff. At the time McGlinty took possession of them they were nominated for Feilding and Stratford races. A day or two before the Stratford meeting Mr. iScally (plaintiff's trainer) came down, to see witness at Eltham and said McGinty did not want the horses to run at Stratford, and witness mado g, special trip to Stratford the night before the races in order to scratch the horses. The account for entering the horses at Stratford was sent to witness who forwarded it to McGinty who had asked him to do so the day the lease was signed. He also asked for the account for fees for the' Feilding meeting. Nothing was said about Scratching the horses at Feilding. Witness did not scratch the horses at Feilding. Early in February witness'had charge of the horses for McGinty, the arrangement made being that he should receive free board and lodging and £1 per week for supervising the training of the horses. To Mr. Croker: There was a rule imposing fines for non-scratching if a horse was not started in a race. He was not fined for non-scratching at Feilding. He believed he said something to McGinty about fees for Feilding. In the event of the horses having won and there being stakes to collect, Mr. McGinty could not legally have claimed the money, not being the registered owner. An arrangement was made that plaintiff was to get half the winnings. He did not make the -arrangements, but they were made for him. Some questions were asked as to the nominal ownership of the horses, but plaintiff said he was the actual owner, but his father had acted for him as he was a minor at the time. He forwarded the account for Stratford fees to McGinty, but could not say whether he sent the Feilding fees. lie was asked to forwaxd the accounts on the day the (ease was signed. At the conversation with Scally, nothing was said about the payment of fees. Scally said McGinty wanted the horses scratched. He could not say what led up to McGinty asking for the accounts for fees. He would bo very surprised to hear that McGinty had had to send to the racing clubs' for the accounts Edward .A. Laurent, in evidence, stat-1 ed the process by which his son became owner of the horses concerned; also the arrangement for leasing the horses to McGinty, who agreed, on December 27, to take the two for two years, to pay i all the fees, and the owner was to receive half the winnings. When the horse was returned by McGinty in May, he made no demand for the fees for Stratford and Feilding. To Mr. Croker: A request for the fees u r as received from Mr. McGinty through his solicitor. Witness said he notified McGinty that fees were due in respect of the Feilding meeting. Victor Laurent also gave evidence as to staying at McGinty's house while looking after one of his brother's horses in New Plymouth.

This concluded the evidence and the ease was adjourned for further argument.