OBNOXIOUS RACECOURSE PARASITES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 106, 3 May 1909, Page 5

OBNOXIOUS RACECOURSE PARASITES.

The autumn meeting of the Marlborough Racing Club is drawing near, and. consequently horse-owners, trainers and jockeys, who are to take part in the- fixture have been arriving daily, and the town is crowded by persons who are legitimate followers and participants in racing, which is held iby all possessing a true sporting inj stinct to bo "the sport of Kings." ! But the object of the writer in referring to that matter is not so much to chronicle the arrival of sporting celebrities, who, by the way, are always made welcome, but to draw the } attention ot: the public to the "parasites" that invariably make their appearance in any town where a racemeeting is to be held, a few days before the function tokes place. For some days past numbers of "wasters," "guessers" and would-be_ "shrewdies" and "cronks" have arrived. Some devote most of their time to looking out for "mugs" to take down by their nefarious trickery, while others again resort to methods of a different kind in order to justify their existence outside the realm of the prison yard. Here and there,will be seen an individual posing on a box in the evenings, and with the aid of a torch, following the role of a "Cheap Jack," who' assures the public that they can secure any article he has, which is, of course, of the best quality, for nothing or

•next to nothing. Anyway it is a case of the purveyor winning every time, and the public are the losers. The appearance of the so-called "clever division" is even more obnoxious in another way, and that was demonstrated in Market Street on Saturday night. Little clusters of these derelects paraded the street or stood at the various corners, and accosted ladies and young girls who chanced to be passing by, and made themselves very objectionable indeed, and it seemed a great pity that they were not better known to the local police, as in all probability they would have been ''padding the hoof" out of town that night. It is well that those disfigurements of humanity receive no quarter whatever from the actual sportsmen, as the latter know perfectly well that were they to countenance such characters they would only be prejudicing the sport of which they are so fond, and also degrading themselves. It is to be sincerely hoped

that- what has been written will serve as a warning to"; the public, who will readily concede that it is not the

actual racing people who are responsible for the corruption that is often

heard of in connection with racing, but the menaces to public decency to whom this article has been devoted. TRAINING NOTES.

There was a great attendance at the course yesterday morning, when all the candidates that have so far arrived were worked. Most of the exercising done was of a useful nature, and there were very few given fastwork. The most attractive gallop of the morning was a sprint over six furlongs between Irish Rifle and Daisy Paul, which was run in Imin 20sec. on the plough, the former finishing in

front. Rendrock and Emma put up a good performance over a similar distance. Burton and Aberration were hooped oif at the five furlong post, the firstmentioned being in front when the post was passed. Neither horse was ■ridden out and the distance was covered in Imin s£sec. The work this morning was of a decidedly more attractive nature, and despite the inclement nature of the weather, there was a good attendance of spectators,, who were well repaid for venturing out. All the gallops were done on the plough. Bert Keeper, as usual, was first on the scene with Ben Lv, Glen, Lerida and Gold Bird, and Billy Gillet was next with Recollection. Ben Lv and Recollection were first on the track and were associated in a five furlong go, both finishing together in Imin 7sec. Glen and Gold Bird galloped six furlongs, the latter haying decidedly the best of the go, which took Imin 22sec. Matira alone sprinted four furlongs in 52sec. * '. Emma and Rendrock covered a similar distance in o4sec, the black horse having the best of the deal. Overrate was sprinted round the back of the course, and then restricted to slow work. Gaelic and Sealer left six furlongs behind in Imin 20sec, the Cup candidate finishing about a length in front of his stable mate. Campaign, another of Jim Cress's string, sprinted four furlongs in 54 sec.

Toa Tuhi, from a fiying start, ran six furlongs in Imin 22sec. . Silken Rein and Lerida were given a pipe opener over six furlongs, the former being in front all the way, the time taken being Imin 19sec. Twinkle, Lehora, Daisy Paul and Irish Rifle were given good solid work. Merry Rose, Lawn Rose and Lucretius together had a fly over seven furlongs, Merry Rose haying the best of the argument, the distance being traversed in Imin 30sec. Belario and Diplomatic covered a similar distance, the latter being in front at the death, the time registered was Imin 34sec. Tumut was restricted to easy work. _;:._ Curator, by himself, ran five furlongs in 64£secs. Burton was given an easy time of it, being sent a couple of rounds at half-pace. Mataari and Iphatus did a strong working gallop over seven furlongs, which, at the finish, saw Mat-aari a length in _ front, the distance being run in Imin 33sec. Merry Xmas and Oblivion ran six furlongs in Imin 19sec, the Merrie England horse having the best of the deal.

Aberration and Osihis together, did good good work Waiata easily beat Vincoin a four furlong flutter, I'an in under 53sec. Tainini and Fara. were given " work at the barrier. ' -.