THE TURF SCANDAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 279, 26 November 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE TURF SCANDAL.

LORD AIIiESBUKY " WARNBD-OFF"

FOR LIFE

The Facts of tho Case.

(BY OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT).

London, October 5. As the Marquis of Ailesbury is about to betake himself. to the Antipodes, and— according to report—means to remain in Australia until "the clouds .roll by" and his latest escapade is forgotten and forgiven, your readers may perhaps like to know the true story of the rorty peer's mis" doings. Various versions are afloat, but I think I can promise you that fche following is the correct one.

Lord Ailesbury being neither a fool no in want of money, it at first sight seems in credible that he should have consented to one of his horses being " roped." The fact, however, was that in common with other owners his lordship had suffered seriously from the plunging propensities of Mr Ernest Benzon, and constant association with some of the lowest blackguards on the turf having sapped his sense of honour and weakened his judgment, it is supposed that he joined only too readily in a plot to " let down " that, young gentleman. The raco chosen for the '' plant" was tho Harewood Plate at York on the last day of the meeting. Benzon, besides losing over £10,000 at baccarat the previous evening, had been very unlucky in his plunges on Tuesday and Wednesday, and 'twas rightly conjectured he would make a desperate effort to recoup his losses on the windingup afternoon. For the Harewood Plate Lord Ailesbury's Everitt looked a real "good thing." The ring, however, were for once generously disposed, and instead of even money, which would have been a fair price under tho circumstances, laid 4 to 1. To inspire Benzon with confidence, 'tis alleged, Lord Ailesbury asked the plunger to get on £300 for him, and it was this fact that told more against him with the Jookey Club than anything else. Bonzon fell into the trap like a lamb. Certain bookmakers laid him leviathan bets, and in an incredibly short time

he stood to win about £30,000 and to lose £10,000. The more money, however, he pub, on the worse [favourite the horse became.

The public by this time were on the gui vive, and long before Martin left the paddock on Everitt, his mind misgave him as to the possibility of stopping the horse. The reality proved even worse than the prevision. Half way up the straight Lord Ailesbury's colb had everything beaten, and nothing short of the most flagrant "roping" could prevent its winning. In this quandary Martin lost his head. First, he decided to win, and secondly, he resolved to lose, the resulb being that, to the horror of all concerned, he did neither, but made a dead heat of it.

The scene that followed I described to you ab the time. But for Jem Mace, Martin would have certainly been lynched and Lord Ailesbury have fared badly. The bookmakers were furious. Here was a case of the " biters' bib " with a vengeance. The whole "plant" had been exposed, and would probably lead to half-a-dozen of them being warned off the turf; and yet the race had not been lost. The ringleaders on the " in for a penny in for a pound" principle would have had Everitb roped a°"ain in the run - off, but here little Martin (frightened into fits by the execrations of the crowd) "struck," and another complaisant jockey could not for the moment be found.

Everitfc won the run-off bymany lengths, odds of 6 to 1 being offered in vain on him before the start.

So the " plant " on Mr Benzon failed, and instead of losing £10,000 he won £30,000. Since then he has, however, left other people's horses alone. The Jockey Club inquiry into the affair was long and exhaustive, almost every person of note in the paddock at York being examined. At length Martin (seeing the truth must out) turned Queen's evidence to save his own skin. Worse than this, he confessed to having " pulled " horses on other occasions for Lord Ailesbury. To most men in Lord Ailesbury's position the disgrace of being warned off the turf would be worse than death. To him it may not mean much.