RACEHORSE DOPING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21423, 22 February 1933, Page 7

RACEHORSE DOPING

RECENT MELBOURNE CASE A NEW ZEALAND VICTIM INTERFERENCE WITH STAGHORN [FROM OUR OWN correspondent] SYDNEY, Feb; 16 There has been further evidence of the activity of racehorse dopers in Victoria, the latest victim being •the New Zealand-owned Staghorn, which was in a sorry plight r during and after, a race run at Williamstown on Saturday. The trainer, George Joneß, said he was certain that his charge had been interfered with. Provioue to the race Staghorn had been working very satisfactorily on the tracks, an.d on Saturday was regarded as a suitable vehicle for substantial wagering. It was a surprise to the trainer that Staghorn should actually drift in the betting, and Joneß was dumbfounded when he ran so badly. Usually one of the fastest beginners, Staghorn got away sluggishly and ran nearly last. The jockey told Jones subsequently that Staghorn was very fractious at the barrier, in striking contrast to his usual behaviour. Before the race Staghorn began to perspire freely and hi 3 condition became so bad afterwards that Jones quickly sent him heme. Gradually the horse became worse. The eyes dilated to an alarming degree and his mouth was as dry as tinder. The colt looked as though lie had run a hundred miles, suid Jones. He was whimpering throughout Saturday night and . refused food. There have been many instances of doping on Victorian racecourses, and the authorities are very .disturbed, because they have not been able to gather any evidence which would suggest the culprit. Tiie position is regarded as extremely serious, especially when the horses concerned drift in the betting, as was the case on Saturday. Jones, who is private trainer for Mr. Kemball, of Wellington, has never before experienced this sort of thing with one of his horses, and the owner of Staghorn was naturally disappointed when he saw him run so badly for the first time in Australia. Many well-known horses have been victims of doping in recent months. These include such fine performers as Wise Force, at Flemington; Cevantes, at Kyneton; Gunroom, at Caulfield, and the steeplechasers Mosstrooper and Kentle. A serious case of doping occurred at Caulfield a few months ago, when a hot favourite for a big event ran very much below the stable's expectations. This particular horse suffered to such an extent that it has not appeared on the track since and may never race again. Trainers look to the Victoria Racing Club and to the police to make special efforts to stop the practices of the dope gang. INCIDENT IN SYDNEY INVESTIGATION BY STEWARDS [from otjr own correspondent] SYDNEY, Feb. 16 Blairfort, a heavily-backed runner in the Victoria Park Handicap yesterday afternoon, was the victim of depers, and for eome time after the event _ was in great distress. . _ ■Usually a quiet' animal, Blairfort first aroused the suspicions of his owner-trainer. W. M. McCurley, when being saddled for the last race of the afternoon by displaying restlessness and constantly ■ twitching his mouth. McCurley was inclined to treat the matter lightly, but being disappointed with the.effort of.Blairfort in the race, he questioned the jockey, J. O'Sullivan, who said that Blairfort wlis unable to 6tretch out and seemed to be stumbling throughout the race. It was with difficulty that Blairfort was returned to his stall, and the trainer, after | making a close examination, came to the conclusion ,that the horse had been doped. •The gelding's eyes were dilated, his tongue was greatly swollen, and • his mouth was 'parched. A veterinary 6urgeon, when endeavouring to *tako a swab, found it dimcult to get any saliva. • ' The matter was brought under the notice 'of the stipendiary stewards, who reported: "After the running of the Victoria Park •Handicap Blairfcrt showed unusual signs of distress. The club's veterinary surgeon, Captain Coulter, was instructed to_ examine the horse and take a swab, and his report discloses that the symptoms of the horse were •consistentwith his .having been drugged. The stewards inquired into the matter and took evidence from the owner-trainer and the attendant, which discloses that the latter left the horse temporarily unattended, but there was no evidence to assist the stewards in determining who administered the drug." , . . . McCurley said that the horse was left in the charge of D. McKay, who was away from the stall for only a few minutes to have a cup of tea before the second last race. When McCurley visited the stall to saddle the horse for the race, he saw a maif near the stall, but he did not, at that moment, have any reason to suspect that Blairfort had been interfered with in any way.