WELLINGTON CUP INCIDENT

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 19, 23 January 1926, Page 8

WELLINGTON CUP INCIDENT

STATEMENT BY STEWAEDS.

Eegarding the Wellington Cup incident, Lieutenant-Colonel H. J. M'Lean (Chairman of the Judicial Stewards) and Mr. J. M'Mahon (Senior Stipendiary Steward) have forwarded the following statement to "The Post":-'- '

"Your reporter's account of the Wellington Cup calls for comment in one or two important particulars.

"(1) The report says 'it seems certain that they (meaning either Te Monanui, Gala Day, Star Stranger, and Grand Knight, or some of them) would have given Enthusiasm a hard tussle, and probably beaten her but for the trouble.' The evidence of the riders of the horses other than Enthusiasm was to the effect that nothing that happened in the race affected their chances, and that Enthusiasm must have won in any event.

"(2) The report states further that Enthusiasm prejudiced tho chances of a placed horse in Star Stranger beyond doubt, and general surprise was expressed that the judge's placings were allowed to stand. The rider of Star Stranger emphatically stated in evidence that he was not prejudiced by anything that the rider of Enthusiasm did. Further, the honorary and stipendiary stewards were unanimous in their decisions that there was no reason whatever on the evidence for disqualifying Enthusiasm."