HEAVY DAMAGES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 285, 2 December 1931, Page 7

HEAVY DAMAGES.

TURF LIBEL ACTION.

Alleged Doping of Racehorse

In England.

JUDGMENT AGAINST PEERS.

(United P,A.—Electric Telegraph.—'Copyright)

(Received 12 noon.)

LONDON, December 1

The alleged doping of the horse Don Pat was the basis of an action by the trainer, Charles Chapman, against Lord Rosebery, Lord Ellemere and the Earl of Harewood, stewards of the Jockey Club, Messrs. Weatherby and Sons, publishers of the "Racing Calendar," and the proprietors of "The Times," for libel in publishing the stewards' decision warning off Chapman from Newmarket and disqualifying the horse. Defendants pleaded privilege and justification.

Counsel contended that it was never said in evidence that Chapman doped the horse. Plaintiff had offered- £500 reward 'and had employed a private detective to discover the doper, but had failed,

The jury found that the words meant that Chapman was a party to the doping and ■ returned a verdict for £13,000 damages against the stewards, and Weatherby and Sons, and a further £3000 against all the defendants. A stay of execution was granted.

C. Chapman Was warned off following Don Pat's success in a race at Kempton Park, when the Jockey Club alleged that he had been responsible for the doping of the horse. His friends declared he was the victim of a plot, and the owner of Don Pat, Mr. Geoffrey Gilbey, went so far as to offer a reward of £600 for evidence leading to the vindication of his trainer.