A STIPENDIARY STEWARD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 95, 25 April 1891, Page 3

A STIPENDIARY STEWARD.

Is is becoming more apparent to racegoers every day that a stipendiary steward will have to bs appointod in the Auckland district sooner or lator to watch proceedings at the various meetings. To those who frequent the diiieronb courses ib v nothing unusual to hear that such and such a horse was run " still " in a certain raco of the day, and thab his mission is another evonb on tho card, or that it is intended ha will shino to advantage at the gathering to take place tha following woel: or some other time. Tho practice i 3 becoming so common thefe ib ia looked upon as a natural order of thinga. Another practice beginning to assume a serious aspects is an alleged local jockey ring thab exists on a small scale. So far, those engaged in the practice and their " assistants" havo conthieu their attention to outside meetings, but if the abuse i 3 not nipped in the bud we will no doubt next see tho parties concerned raising their heads on high at ISlleralie. Tho names of the jockeys are spoken of daily in spots where racing followers most do congrogato, and it behoves the proper tribunal to take the whole matter in hand. Horse-racing ha 3 now resolved itself into almost a pure business, and the majority, instead of indulging in the sport for ita own sweet sake, seem determined to get their "'pound of flesh "ab all hazards. This i 3 the sign of the times, and although it can hardly be possible to make the noble sport as pure as many would wish, still a check can be put on tho proceedings thai help to fcring racing into disrepute among the public. The appointment of a stipendiary steward would no doubt help to prevent some of the abuses race followers have to contend against, and if the Auckland Racing Club Committee cannot sea their was to take action in the matter, perhaps a recommendation can be raado at the forthcoming meeting of metropolitan racing delegates in Wellington anenb tho appointment.