SERIOUS TURF SCANDAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11950, 26 April 1902, Page 2 (Supplement)

SERIOUS TURF SCANDAL.

LICENSES REFUSED TO LEADING ; , . JOCKEYS. Mitch scandalous gossip is brought to a head by a punitive announcement contained in a late edition of the Racing Calender, the official organ of the autocratic body responsible for the turf's good government. The notice reads : —

"The stewards of the Jockey Club, when considering applications for licenses to ride during the coming season, made inquiry into several cases in which jockeys were stated to have associated with persons of bad character on the turf and to have been guilty of offences under the rules of racing. At the close of the inquiry the stewards refused F. Rickaby a license, and warned him off Newmarket Heath. O. Madden was refused a license to ride, and some others were severely cautioned for association with persons of bad character."

The two jockeys who on the eve of what promises to lie a more than usually eventful season thus find themselves " rusticated" are —or rather —capable and successful members of their profession. Curiously enough, in the light of these exposures, one of Rickaby's chief employers was that most zealous and energetic reformer of turf abuses —Lord Durham. He was likewise first jockey to Mr. George Lambton's aristocratic stable, whose patrons among other patricians include the Earl of Derby, his son Lord Stanley, and Captain Hedworth Lamb-, ton, of Powerful ana Ladysmith fame. It was on the earl's filly that he defeated His Majesty's Thais in the Oaks two days after Persimmon's ever-memorable Derby. Among Ins principal achievements last year were victories on Mr. George Edwalfles' popular idol, Santoi in the Jubilee and Ascot Cup. Otto Madden has had an extraordinarily successful career. In eight years, finishing up last November, he rode the enormous number of 750 winners, and twice—in 18,'b' and again last season—he secured the distinction of heading the list, of winning jockeys. Of Hungarian extraction, and coming of a racing stock, ho served his novitiate With the King's trainer, R. Marsh, for whose stable he achieved many notable successes, the greatest and most sensational of them being when he won the Derby on Mr. Lornachs Jeddah at the forlorn odds of 100 to 1. His handicap "scalps" include two Lincoln Handicaps for a gambling stable composed mainly of army officers, the Cesurewitch, the Chester Cup. two Stewards' Cups, and the City and Suburban. He is believed to have amassed a large fortune. It is not explicitly stated for what,crimes against racing laws' and morals the culprits have been punished. Supplementing their punitive notice the stewards issue this strong warning to persons against practising a glowing form of corruption : — "Information which has recently been laid before the stewards of the Jockey Club leads them to conclude that the warnings under rule 176, dealing with improper methods of obtaining intelligence, have recently been disregarded in several quarters. They wish it to be clearly understood that, in the event of any offence under this rule being proved, the' punishment therein provided will be invariably enforced." This there can be little doubt is directed chiefly against the more unscrupulous among the professional backers, whose constant endeavour it i" to obtain secret information with regard to a horse's chance which can only bo got by means of bribery and corruption. ______