SPOTTING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11303, 22 December 1898, Page 6

SPOTTING.

■' DISQUALIFICATIONS. (Pek United Fmsss Association.) MASTERTON, December 21. The stewards of the Masterton Racing Club 'to-day resumed the adjourned inquiry regarding the bona.fides of the mare Ethel,'winner of. the Hack Scurry at.Opaki.on December 9. .After taking a great deal of evidence, the stewards unanimously" resolved that W. A. lJonald (who signetl the mare's nomination paper in the name of J. E. Williamson) bo 'disqualified'for 'life;'.'that the boy, Ernest (Jundy, in the employ of Donald, be severelycautioned, but the stewards considered proof against him in connection with the alleged ringing in of Ethel not stronj? enough for punishment; that Uie'jockey Edward J. Chitham, of Palmerston North, bo disqualified for life for his connection with the matter. It was further l-esolved that Ethel be disqualified for ever, and the stakes won be paid-to. the second horse. The evidence was; strong that Ethel is identical with the bay mare, Virgie, Mr Piper, of Christchureh, identifying by a'photograph of; Ethel. The inquiry • was adjourned for four weeks in order that K. S. Henry, of Auckland, be summoned.to appear andproduce Vii-gia, and failing his attendance the stewards will'deal withJiim and ■Virgio on the evidencoand infirmation they possess. . ' ) ,

An Auckland telegram states that Tirant d'Eau has firmed in the Auckland Cup bettins, 4to 1 being wanted. •"

An Auckland telegram states the following athletes have bceii selected to represent the Auckland Amateur Athletic Club at. the New Zealand Amateur Championship meeting at Dunedin in February:—Davidson, W.'Mhdill, G. Smith, A. "W. Bell.'Hori Eruera, and H. Olip.haiit., At the second day of the Pahiatua races Pipi (S3 7s) won the Railway Handicap, Master' Morel (£4 14s) t!;e Hurdles, Royal Ascot (£2 4s) the Trial Handicap, Miss Bettie {£2 2s) the . Newnmrlcnt Handicap,.. Worry (£l3 3s) the Racing Club ;Handicap, Sallatorial (£1 6s) Hie Welter, First Blood (£3 9s) the Grand Stand Handicap, (Jreygown (£3 7s) the Scurry, anil Moonstone (£1 4s) the Consolation. The sum of £2028 was put. through during the meeting.

A Wellington telegram says:—The suspension of Calnan, one of . the ,pair-oared champions, and three oilier members of the Wellington Rowing Chib, for having taken_fpart in a naval cutter raco'wiUiout the permission of the Rowing Association, lias had a most unfortunate effect on. the club. The Appeal Council of the Rowing Association lias decided that all members of the club Who had rowed in club races with the four members under suspension must be classed as professionals. This decision involves a'largo number of members in the suspension, and as a consequence., all the club competitions have had to be postponed. A special genera) meeting of delegates to the~New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association -.has been convened for January 26 for the purpose of reinstating the men concerned ,as amateurs; The-incident has caused some sensation in local athletic circles. ■• : •■■ ■ .■ -.:\- "■ :Vl . ; ' "

Mt W. Sproull haa'been elected secretary of the New-Zealand Cyclists' Touring ■Club, vice Mr E.--T. Savers, resigned. The adjourned inquiry, into the running of Quiokshot IT at the Taieri races last month, and his riding by Kmerson, was held on Monday evening before tho stewards of the Taieri Amateur Turf Club. The .evidence taken at the first meeting was read over to Emerson, after which he made a statement as to his side of thfi. case. After some deliberation, the following decision was arrived at by the stewards:—"That, while Emerson's riding in Uio Flying, Handicap was not by any means satisfactory, there" is not sufficient, evidence to- warrant the club in taking any further action in the matter."