BAREFACED STUMERS.

NZ Truth, Issue 130, 14 December 1907, Page 2

BAREFACED STUMERS.

Allowed to go Unchecked. At Woodville on Wednesday last Lomaria, with 7.10 on her back, easily Accounted for the Grandstand Hack Handicap, and carved out the seven furlongs m lmin. 29 4-ssec. .On the second day she Was raised 9fts, and m the Stewards' Hack Handicap of six furlongs it took her rider all his time to keep her out of a place. His efforts were on a par with those displayed by the rider' of Lady Disdain m the Welter Hack on the first day, but both these cases were unnoticed by the stewards, although everyone on the course was talking about them. Apparently the stewards Were anxious t6 atone for their past faults, and when Oliver |on Tangimoana crossed Moloch m [the Summer Handicap they put him out with "a fosing and a crash"^ although it was, at the most, a" trifling affair and did not affect the result of thef race. The long-suffering public who backed- Lady Disdain and Lomaria were not avenged and are not likely to be, but still that is the fortune of war, and as long as we have" a system of honorary stewards, so long will the most bare-faced swindles be* worked on our racecourses. - It is a case of tote, tote* tote, and tote again. Let the machine put through plenty of money, -and never mind anything else. All that the present-day stewards think about is looking for "good .things" and it isa rare affair to find orie who does not bet. What is the result ? j When a horseman who tips well commits a bareaoh of the racing laws his offence is winked at, arid ■ the evil goes on unchecked. But the day of retribution is coming, and if the clubs do not set about to put their house m order they will find that it will be put m order for them.