"WON IN A RAFFLE."

Taranaki Daily News, 14 August 1920, Page VII

"WON IN A RAFFLE."

RACEHORSE FOR HALF-A-CROWN.

A "PIGEON-TOED" GALLOPER. ) The hearing of a claim by M. Coo*#;! against J. Romaaico for £6O 10*, train-, 1 ' ing and track fees in respect of the horse Vialantie, was continued at the Stratford Court yesterday, when fur- !■ tier particulars were unfolded regarding ; the handling of thiß "likely-looking" gal- - loper; which the owner had scfeured in ' ft "half-dollar raffle." The plaintiff'* story was heard last ■■ Court day, and yesterday the defendant ■ took the box. ' Mr. Croker said that the as indicated, was that the horse was not ft racehorse. He suggested it was not ev f n a hor«o that could be entered In ' a hajjk race. Romanice's evidence would ; be to the effect that he Won the horse 1 In a raffle, and Conza approached him $ stating it was a good horse atd*o»fld:' win some races, and undertook to train ''■ l it. On this representation defendant'had been involved in expenditure which fa ordinary circumstances »he would i not have undertaken. * ; | In evidence itdmanice said, he was a ■: latCoi'ef at the oil wells, New Plymouth, '<! He got the horse in a raffle foir halloa-' * crown. Conza offered to take the bona * for six weeks on ttfal, and, if did," not show form he Would turn'tastf down. 'J At the end of this period he said she • s was too green and would have to be 1 »-r ept l?, n 8 er - Tlle i 10r39 enttrtia at, ; New Plymouth Chnstmas meeting, but ' not raced, as Conza said she t>» »<£,.£ ready. She was nominated again-Afc tltaJ February, meeting} Coma missedttt» ceptance on the first day. On i day he brought his own'but .wit- i ness' horse at home, saying the Mtn- i' pan Was too good. He paid almiij night for some time, and "then was ojjpl of work for two months. He told Conttij to sell or lease the horse. ,? Percy Johnston, trainer, said he did not tokq the horse Jo train because she ■ had twisted legs. He could /not - see anything to suggest a resemblance be* .. tween this animal and the horse El (3alio, •a# had been stated during the eats, He <j ooul<T not say that the horses waa not '; able to run half a mile In 92 laodnds. Subsequent evident? touched on the. question of "pigeon-toed" WH- ; ness stated that the complaint was particularly noticeable in Viatatffit. ■ His Worship said he had.Jeett the horse on the previous day, and was not impressed with, it as a racehorse. • 1

After consideration of the evidence s during* the adjournment, his Worship. announced that it Was evident the defendant wag entirely ignorant of r*«e-' homes, and that he relied on the JHaintiff to give him, after a fair trial, nn ; opinion as to whether the training of, the horse was worth while going on with. Apparently the agreement understood was that the plaintiff should give such opinion by the time of the W.iverley raoes in October—three months from " the time of his taking chargo of the ; horse. The opinion of other trainers ;■ was that the horse was no good, and the plaintiff should have been in a poai- - t!on to report this after thVee months' trial. Judgment would be ,for tlie £ plaintiff for 13 weeks training at £g.| per week, less amounts paid on account, i <£l9 10s, with oristi £1 17s.