A GREAT TURF SCANDAL
Melbourne, December 4. The Age states that a story of a very scandalous nature has been current in sporting circles for some weeks past, imputating to a well-known bookmaker a villainous attempt to stiffen a horso engaged in the recent V.R.C. Spi-ing MeetThough the statement is of a very circumstantial character, the precise details the paper refrained giving publication to for some time in full, in the expectation that the V.R.C. would take the matter up.
Briefly, it is alleged that the owner of a first-class performer having experienced misfortune during the early part of the meeting, suggested, to the bookmaker that for a certain lai-go sum which he specified, he was prepared to allow the bookmaker to drug the horse and prevent him from winning on the following day. The bookmaker promptly acquiesced, and under his own supervision a ball was prepared in the city, and together the pair journeyed to Flemington. The owner, however, had taken the precaution to acquaint his trainer with the game afoot, and instructions were given that paint should be applied to another horso in the stable, so that he would resemble the intended victim. The deception succeeded, and the bookmaker handed over the promised cheque. In the paddock, when the race in which the drugged favourite competed came on, there was . no more desperate fielder than the bookmaker under notice.
His fellow-pencillers stared in astonishment at his reckless wagering, but as he whispered a friendly word in the ears of his fellow-ringmen, the secret was quickly understood, "and point by point tho favourite lengthened. The more money that went on the more venturesome the bookmakers became. The race was run, and the favourite triumphed.
The paper concludes that the attention of the V.R.C. has now been pointedly directed to what appears to be one of the biggest scandals perpetrated in connection -with the Victorian turf for a long time. Enquiry will probably follow.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZMAIL18961210.2.81.7
Bibliographic details
New Zealand Mail, Issue 1293, 10 December 1896, Page 27
Word Count
324A GREAT TURF SCANDAL New Zealand Mail, Issue 1293, 10 December 1896, Page 27
Using This Item
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.