RACING INQUIRY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 439, 23 February 1909, Page 9

RACING INQUIRY.

, Sir,—"Fairplay'' in. his letter' in.. your issue of February 3 has 1 not im-' , proved either: Mr! .Henrys' or the •■'Maria-' Yf. ■ s position over the late inquiry. Allow; me. to. again .call attention to that ; clause of the bffioial report which said; "Mr. Watt had nogrounds forcomplaint." Please note the member of committee' who signed this official -report to ■ Mr; Watt that ./Mr.: Henrys had overlooked' his Ashhurst;handicap when weighting Eclogue; arid Separator for the third day at Palmerston. In faot, Mr. 'Watt had proved that Mr. Henrys had committed the very offenco or mistake Mr. Watt complained of. •■ : Yef the Manawatu Club state, "Mr.. Watt had'no grounds for complaint." I leave that body to -reflect over tho equity of their finding. It is amusing to see call: attention to the "Referee'?-of January 20' last.' I bog of him to read the "Roferee" of May 3, 1905, on the same subject in the sanie column (editorial).-.- If "Fairplay" can find anything more condemnatory/of Mr: Henrys' work as a handicapper" I have never seen it; and certainly Mr. Watt has never charged or imputed any such actions to -Mr, Henrys as this article in the "Rofcree" of' May. 3 1905, does. _ A', correct copy of : the articles' from the Referee" of May 3,1905, and January 20, 1909, are republished in the Hastings "Standard" of February ■ 3. I advise ''Fairplay'.' to read them,- "Phaeton,'.'; in the "Auckland Weekly ' of January. 21 last, rebukes Mr. Watt for daring to question Mr. Henrys' work.; "Phaeton" has no more justification in this . case in referring, to what ho terms tho "melancholy sight or a chronic grumbler" than :I would have in calling "Phaeton's" attention to the pernicious' influence of a venal press. "Fairplay" draws attention to a list of owners who support J

Mr. Henrys. .._ I. do not think, there could, have been a more comparison for that gentleman's iCase.: Did ever, any horse with as much success- on the-turf retiro with as light a weight as Mystification, and.js.it not a fact that but for want of judgment on tho part of her jockey Nadador would have about won tho last National Steeple, carrying a Mb. penalty, over what'iMr, Henrys, allotted her? Further, if "Fairpla-y" will per«se,ttio;"RefereG" :.of May 3, 1905, lie will find in every; case where, exception is taken to the-.rdlative weights of two horses,, the favourably-treated animal - each time ' belongs ;tp> one or olher of two southern sportsmen in 'Tairplay; , s",list. It Is, a- pity -Mr. ; Henrys- friends cannot tell the whole truth. U.-Alr. Watt admitted he knew no! better: handicapper than.' Mr. Henrys, te also said he .could not see..how: making a successful' handicap .was beyond the-,capacity of anyone who took it up.'Seeing 'T?airplav" mentions the/.'.'Feilding!' Club, .pardon me femng to a- matter which 'occurred at -the last Spring Meeting there.', 'Wheii the .horses' returned .to the -paddock'- after a'-certain horse;tad! won t6e hurdles,- Mr. -Henrys .accused the riOer.of ;the secon* horse of doing all m his power'to. lose the race, -ftpon' the trainorof the second borse. asking what Mr- . ;;thafc -gentleman' repeated' his accusation,- , whereupon .the; said : trainer placed a written;complaint in-the hands of the: secretary, and; we are still■ awaiting the result of the dab's:findmion'thatcompTaint is. it -not;;incumbent,,oii;the".Metropolitan Uub. to; investisate'. and; .ascertain; whether', the. public were; swindled or merely a jockej' insulted by Mr.. Henrys. : Let-'racing clubs -tefino.-what, duties/are attached;vto: eacn' of their officials,/then-- let Hhem.dispense "■ even- ; .the public, their patrons,and officials ; But:to,Save the pubic mind, saturated-with the .idea of collusion between a dub and. either its, patrons ;'or officiate £ .detrimental,, to ..tte.'-.'best'' interests' of 'the ;