THE RACING SCANDAL.

Waikato Times, Volume VIII, Issue 479, 15 June 1875, Page 3

THE RACING SCANDAL.

Xhe morality of the turf in England has steadily declined of late years. The fine old English sport which in the past exercised so beneficial an influence upon the breed of horses, and was so closely allied with the British love of athletic contests and fair play, degenerated a few years ago into a mere mania for high gambling, in which a class of notorious blacklegs were enabled to trap the unwary, and the original objects of horse-racing were almost entirely 3ost)sight of. A few men like Baron Rothschild and Admiral Rons still threw a halo of respectability around the turf, and the strenuous efforts to purge it of the class of adventurers and professional blacklegs who had dragged the noble sport in the mire were partially successful. In Victoria, a few years ago, scandals in connection with turf ruatters, threatened to create a. vevulsion of feeling, =Md to degrade the fine old English sport to the level of the prize ring. iSTN^^zWand Hjbe turf has been comparatively freeroojp^^h^es^pi'actices, though at rare intervals spofting'iaen^Jiave* r been scandalized by such proceedings^^ those which resulted in the disqualification of Thanks to * determination on the part of the various clubs to purge their ranks of men guilty of crooked practices, aad to rigidly enforce their rules, the racecourses of Canterbury, Otago, Auckland, and Nelson have been able to boast of such "square" sportsmen as Stafford, Elliott, and others, and New Zealand has been enabled to develop a breed of horses which have successfully competed with the best blood of the sister-colonies, and which would not disgrace Ascot or Epsom. But Ellerslie has lately been tlie scene of an event which threatens to involve the turf, in this province, at least, in considerable difficulty and disgrace. After the victory of Daybreak over Shamrock, a match was arranged between the former and Maori Weed for ,£25 aside, between Mr A. E. Isaacs, owner of Daybreak, and some of the admirers of the Maori ho\e, whose owner is a son of HapuEa, the-^fomer^ierV Hapuka appears to have evinced consmeW>fa _disi\clihatibu to run liis horse, but finally acWpfiecl Mr Is^aos^ challenge. No sooner had the preliminaries been arranged, than some ugly rumours began to get afloat amongst the "knowing ones" of the sporting fraternity, and an ugly complexion was given to the first mere whispers by Mr Isaacs' offering 10 to 5, and subsequently 25 to 10 against the "Weed, This extraordinary evidence of confidence in Daygave rise to rumours that the race would not be run on " the square," It leaked out too that Hapuka had expressed a suspicion to his trainer, Huntley, that the Weed would not receive fair play, and, notwithstanding the assurances of the trainer, the owner locked the stable door in order to prevent the match. Huntley, however, broke opea the door, and was very earnest in his assurances that affairs were proceeding smoothly. The case assumed a^^ls^ke^omple^ion, however, when a few of tW^^ers oPMaan^Veed commenced to hedge onwieVatpengUi of"Nw.nfidential hints received from\ H-untley. - Matters proceeded, ihe match was run, but the affair was palpably and inpudently a hollow sham to practised eyes- Kelly, the rider of the Weed, manoeuvred from the start to give Daybreak tlie advantage, kept the" Weed foard held to the dis^mee post, and only let the fliorse have his head wilSdn about twelve lengths of ihe finish. Iri^^ie^ tfiWi&eNy'eed only lost by a neck, and conme^fe jud&esVtate tbat had the race been ten yarcfcs longer the Maori horse must lave won. Immediately the horses entered the saddling paddock there was a general «ry that the race had been a disgraceful swindle. Mr Edgar, one of the backers of .the Weed, challenged Mr Isaacs to run the^waJhoiiQes there and then a mile aad a half for j^^K^t. £\%j} a.-sicl», with Another jockey on the Vk\euV and $he offer was subsequently increased to\£3oo byNother backers of the Maori horse. Mr Isaacs, however, declined to accept these challenges, and the dupes had no other «curse open but to appeal to the Jockey Club for redress. The result of the inquiry has already been announced in <>ffrs^^ra)|^i^cokvmns. Kelly, the jockey, and Hu^^,l»the\bf^erSf Maori Weed, have been disquaijnecr,v^ancK^r """Isaacs has been -called upon to explain. There appears to be no ■disguising the fact that the whole affair has been a most disgraceful swindle. Mr Huntley in his evidence says, a^J[ t^gn a spectator I should have said It waV^^fflrjara^VifJi*^ This gentleman appears to notions as to the aspects" ' in * which the morality of the turf nlay be viewed according to the circumstances and interests of the parties. It may be presumed that his idea* as to the respective relaya v tions and dtifie^^R^ideiKL.attd twiners and the general public wl^^Bjiwct tfre^ fau'fj resemble those denned in the folft^n§Jines\~That in the captain's birt a choleric word, Which in the soldier is flat blasphemy. JVir Isaacs, however, strongly denies that he was privy to the swindle, or that he derived any pecuniary benefit fro» it fcbut he has complicated his position in\he v> ma\ter^T^^nigto attend a second summons of \^ne Jockey <3mh^^cc the plea of pressure of business. So far as* the result of the inquiry goes it is as palpably hollow as the race itself. The disqualification of the rider and trainer are in reality no punishment at all, and, so far as Mr Isaacis^N^S'^onee^ned, matter is left in a most' unsatisfactory '^position. Indeed prejudiced persona might be inclined to suspect that the Jockey Club have purposely opened for him an avenue of escape from an awkward position. The only way to inflict any salutary punishment is to disqualify the horses. . As. the case stands, either Maori Weed or Daybreak majr be run again by otter owners, or by the same owners in the name of other persons, and save the slight obolquy, for ■which Kelly and Huntley probably care very little, no adequate or substantial punishment has been • inflicted. "We dislike shams in anything, and this decision of the Jockey Club savours very much of a happy family arrangement, in which the real interests of the turf are lost sight o£