WAS DOPE USED?

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 82, 7 April 1925, Page 8

WAS DOPE USED?

UPON A COMPETITOR. AT A COUNTRY RACE MEETING. It is quite common to read of cases Australia where horses have been >ped, and electric batteries used by ickeys at race meetings, but fortunely" the Turf in New Zealand has, so ir 'as is publicly known, been almost itirely free from such malpractice. About two years ago it was common roperty in Auckland that more than tie horse which had won races in this rovincc had -been, assisted to victory y the use of the electric battery by )ckeys, but those in control of the port" were never able to catch the culrite. The battery then used was a mall affair about the size of acigartte packet, and was secreted in the vad bag of the saddle, and the wire ran long the top on the inside of the addle till a point was reached by the houlder. A small button hidden under he leather only had to 'be pressed by he rider to give the animal a shock. The use of "dope," which may be one >f many drugs, is not often suspected in slew Zealand, but at one of the meetngs on the Auckland country circuit iince Christmas at least one horse was suspected of having been doped. It is cnown that the police have been makng inquiries, but beyond this no action ias been taken, and no further informa;ion is available.