THE LATE STEEPLECHASE RACE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6061, 21 April 1881, Page 6

THE LATE STEEPLECHASE RACE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —In your report of the races you frequently use my name in connection with the Steeplechase, and theprotest, and continually in Auckland the papers generally are harping on Southern bookmakers. Therefore, I have come to the conclusion that strangers have not got much show in Auckland—at least in my line. In your issue of this morning, I find that some one named Potter was called in to give evidence re Sportsman. He stated that he had very little interest in the race, and at the same time he stood to win £50 on Sportsman from W. Proffit. He also stated that I offered £10 if someone would prove that Sportsman had gone the wrong course. I tell Mr. Potter the state- | ment is false. I never offered one shilling to jockey or anyone else, and I defy Mr. Potter to prove the contrary. lam surprised that the stewards, after hearing Mr. Potter's statement, did not call me before them to give me a chance to rebut the charge. I thiuk it hard that a man should lose his money and then got such defamatory statements published about him. To conclude : I know tho stewards' decisipn is final, and all must pay that laid against Sportsman ; but I must also remark that it was a very strange place for anyone to attempt to tamper with or remove a flag when there must have been at the least 20 people standing in the road tho whole time of the race, including the two men in charge of the racecourse gate. Hoping you will kindly insert this letter in justice to fair play,—l am, &c., Geo. Belciier. The Mr. AVarren, late manager of the Colonial Bank at Christchurch, who was presented with a purse of 310 guineas upon leaving that city the other day, is a brother ] of Mr. S. Warren s of the Bank of New Zea- 1 land, Westport.