WAS IT DOPED?

Taranaki Daily News, 3 November 1922, Page 5

WAS IT DOPED?

FAVORITE FINISHES TiAST. INCIDENT AT By Telegraph.—Press Association. Gisborne, Last Night. No further light has been thrown on the alleged doping of the racehorse Persian King before last Saturday’s races-t McFlinn, the rider of the horse, stated, in evidence before the stewards that Persian King did not appear right, and* was unable to go fast after the first furlong. Witness had to ride the mount hard to keep near the field. thought the horse was doped. ( W. D. Turnbull, the trainer; said one of his stable boys reported that on the previous night three men were seen near the stables, and strange footprints were -found in the yard. Witness thought the horse was doped on the night previoils to the race. ' Mr. Wenzl Scholium, the owner, has offered a reward of £5O for information leading to the conviction of the person who doped Persian King. ■Subsequent to the running of the Matawhero Handicap at the Poverty Bay Turf Club’s races last Saturday, the stewards held an inquiry into the condition of Persian King, who fell miserably short of expectations in the race, and who finished badly distressed after having been ridden under the whip for the last six furlongs. Persian King started favorite and finished last, and an examination of the horse led to the conclusion that he had been “doped.” Evidence was taken, and the usual steps adopted to secure an expert opinion as to whether “doping” had actually occurred. The evidence was to the effect that three men had been seen in the small hours of the morning near the stables at which Persian King was housed, and their tracks were found leading to the stall, which was not secured by a lock.