Stone thrown, says owner

Press, 10 July 1985, Page 41

Stone thrown, says owner

NZPA-AP London British greyhound racing has been-rocked by allegations of race fixing after an owner claimed that his champion dog was hit by a stone, . while chasing its seventeenth straight victory. Ken Peckham, the owner of Scurlogue Champ, called for an inquiry and was quoted aS saying his dog, which was in sight of the British record of 20 straight victories, was the victim of a plot. Mr Peckham said: “Someone rang me from London and told me that the winner, Sneaky Liberty, was the subject of a £5OOO ($13,450) bet at 5-1. That is a ridiculously good price.” The police were called to the Fengate dog track at the eastern English town of Peterborough last week-end when scuffles broke out among spectators after the

race. No arrests were reported. A report in the daily “Sporting Life” said: “What should have been another glory night for Scurlogue Champ ended in disorder and disgrace.”. “Sporting Life” said a report by a veterinary surgeon, who examined the dog soon after the race, suggested it had pulled a muscle in his front shoulder. ■Mr Peckham was quoted as saying: “My dog went lame at the first bend and near the spot we found a large stone.” Henry Cox, the administration officer of the National Greyhound Racing Club — the sport’s governing body in Britain — said: “We have asked our officials to prepare a report to go before the N.G.K.C. stewards with a view to possibly holding an official inquiry/’