OUT FOR LIFE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20706, 5 March 1942, Page 4

OUT FOR LIFE

HASTINGS TRAINER CORRUPT PRACTICES INCIDENT AT GISBORNE (P.A.) HASTINGS, this day. Disqualification for life was the penalty imposed upon W. H. Corlett, a Hastings horse trainer, by the Hawke’s Bay District Committee yesterday as a result of an inquiry which it conducted arising from the running of the Awapuni Hurdles at Gisborne on October 28.

Penalties were also imposed on several jockeys and other trainers.

Corlett was charged with having committed a breach of rule 338-la which states that any person commits a corrupt practice who corruptly gives or offers any money, present, share in a bet, or other benefit to any person having official duties in relation to the race or to any owner, trainer, rider, or any other person having charge of or access to any horse. Corlett was also alternatively charged with rule 338-ld which states that any person is guilty of corruption who tampers with any person employed in a racing or training stable. He was found guilty on both charges. The committee also heard charges against G. A. MacDonald and J. G. Bray, a Gisborne horse trainer, arrd J. Toki and C. Zuppicich, licensed jockeys, of having committed a breach of rule 338-lh, which relates to supplying false information. The charges against Bray and MacDonald were held to be proved, Bray being disqualified for two years and ordered to pay £lO costs and MacDonald being disqualified for six months and ordered to pay £5 costs, their names riot to go on the forfeit list if these sums are paid before April 30. Toki and Zuppicich were found to have committed a breach and each was fined. £5.

The first race of the second day of the Gisborne meeting, the Awapuni Hurdles, attracted only three starters. Mr. W. H. Corlett’s Arabic was ridden by J. Toki, Mr. C. L. Ferguson’s Jungle King by C. Zuppicich, and Mr. E. Fitzgerald’s Visibility by J. Nicholson. Visibility was made a firm favourite, with Arabic next best supported. A description of the race showed that Arabic went to the front at the start, followed by Visibility and Jungle King. Visibility took the lead at the fourth fence but three furlongs from home began to fade out and Arabic went to the front again with Jungle King putting in a strong run. Despite a tendency to run off, Arabic held the lead to the finish to win by a length and a half, with Visibility finishing four lengths behind Jungle King.