CROUPIER CASE AGAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21223, 1 July 1932, Page 13

CROUPIER CASE AGAIN.

TRENTHAM ENTRY REFUSED.

REGISTRATION NOT IN ORDER.

EFFECT OF' COURT DECISION.

[BY TELEGRAPH!. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Thursday.

A position unprecedented in tbe history of racing in Nsw Zealand has arisen in connection with the racehorse Croupier. His seizure at Eiccarton last November followed by the recent Supreme Court proceedings in Auckland have kept him well in the public eye. Now there is a new development. Croupier was entered for events at the Wellington Winter Meeting at Treatham next month, and his name duly appeared in the nomination lists. Ho was not, however, in the list of handicaps published this veek. The secretary of the Wellington Pacing Club states that the entry has been refused on the ground that it is not in order under the Rules of Racing. The rule under which the nomination was refused states that any horse affected by any unregistered joint interest shall be declared to be ineligible to be entered for or to start in any race. He shall under the same rules be prohibited from being trained upon any racecourse or training track owned or occupied by or in any way under the jurisdiction of any racing club. From August last Croupier raced nndeir the registered joint interests of Messrs. J, J. Corry Rnd the Messrs. John and James Paterson, in the ratio of 50 per cent, to Mr. Corry and 25 per cent, to each of the Messrs. Paterson. Acting through an agent the Messrs. Paterson seized the hoise on the concluding day of the New Zealand Cup meeting last November, as ho was leaving tho Eiccarton courso after competing in the Stead Cup. Croupier was taken t.o Auckland, whera he has remained under the orders of the Messrs. Paterson ever since.

Mr. Corry went to law. After a hearing in the Supreme Court at Auckland Mr. Justice Herdman found in favour of the Messrs. Paterson, and dissolved tha partnership. It was not within his power or jurisdiction to dissolve the registration of the joint interest of the parties lodged with the Racing Conference. Apparently the Messrs. Paterson have entered Croupier for events ahead under the impression that the Supreme Court judgment cancelled the registered Joint interest in thfi offices of the Racing Conference. They have not applied for a registration of a joint interest between themselves in the racehorse Croupier, as required under the Rules' of Racing, and no joint interest being so registered, the Wellington ]?tacing Club has refused the entry. If the action of the Wellington Club is correct Croupier, who has been working regularly oil the Ellerslie tracks for several weeks, has had no right under the Rules oi: Racing to be there. So far as the legal aspect of the situation is concerned Mr. Corry has appealed against the judgment of Mr. Justice Herdman, but pending the hearing of such appeal, it will be in order for tho Messrs. Paterson to make application for the registration of Croupier in their joint interests.

What action the Racing Conference might take or what is its view of the complicated situation, the president, Mr. O. S. Watkins, at the moment is not prepared to slate.