" A SPLAW'S LAMENT."

NZ Truth, Issue 244, 26 February 1910, Page 2

" A SPLAW'S LAMENT."

(For "New Zealand Truth.")

I have travelled a bit, and of sights seun a lot, Though I do not proless lo be wise ; Still if I'm hot blessed with a stock of wit, I am blessed with a pair of eyes. Many meetings I've seen where the tactics' were crook, But of some 1 am not going to spciak, But, seme "readies" that beat' any Nat Gould's book Took place at New Plymouth last week. Thc fields were O.K. and the weather was fine, And. the.. punters felt happy and gay, And up to the course ,a continuous lina Oi "pigeons'* were wending their way. Three well-known jocUs hau mounts on erodes, And it looftod as tho' each must win ; And the' ."golden geese" kept punting • away, "■" ," '• '• ' : ' ' And the "books" took their loot with a grin. On the New Plymouth course there stands a hill Hiding part of the track from view ; You view the field ; how they're placed past the stand — > . Past the hill their positions arc new. Will you please explain how a prad can gam Thc lead when he's chains behind ? In a 'yard or two he gets w; 11 m front, And the favorite's last, we find. And the ,goose (poor for his loot he saw," The favorite whipping m. And the jock keeps whipping away (at his boot), And the books all wear a grin; Ah,' lads,' your "harness" may be good, And your rings with diamonds Slash, But your heads must Ibe of ironbark wood, ' If you can't. foresee the crash. If you lose your brief will a brother thief , Step m and hand you. a score ?■■ Not he ! for he cares hot that you've come to giJief, Por he looks upon you as a splaw. One can understand guessers, turf spielers and crooks Dragging out an existence by ' wit; And a small latitude is allowed to the bOOKS, .' Who sometimes (but seldom) are hifc So a word m season is not out of place, It will not be a difficult pill When advising crook jockeys to ride a fair race, And give racing its due— "a clean bill." If you don't— well the wowsers will one and all smile, You are playing right into their hands; 'Twill be "kiss-in-the-ring" m a very short while, And bun-fights m all the grandstands. The races have left here a had taint behind, It's thc topic North, South, East, anl 'W«Bt.--' Just another such meeting and you'll find Tarahhki Clqb having a rest. So to purify racing and keep the sport clean, " Is the reason I rush into print, Just to warn the three jockeys who took such a risk, So I'm sending this rhyme to "Spearmint." —"COLL." New Plymouth^ Feb. 18, 1910.