THE WILD WEST COAST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19687, 14 January 1926, Page 14

THE WILD WEST COAST.

RACES ACCORDING TO PLAN.

FIVE JOCKEYS DISQUALIFIED

“After several years’ experience of the racing on the West Coast during the Holidays, I am convinced that some of Lie happenings duging the past three weeks were well over the limit, ami exceeded. anything 1 of recent years,” said an experienced and quite disinterested eye-witness to-day who has recently returned from Reef ton (writes ‘Vedette’ in the Evening Post). He said that matters began badi)', and rapidly became worse, and although the famous hurdle race at Keefton was the culminating point, there were many other instances of suspicions practices which for some reason escaped official notice. . Questioned specifically regarding the hurdle race at Reefton, which brought about the six months’ disqualification of A. M'Mullan, M. Kirwan, W. Easton, A. J. Peart, and A. G. Campbell for failing to ride their respective horses out, he said that it was one of the most obvious cases possible. In fact, it was incredible that such a desperate affair should have been staged. Maunu, whose previous form had been too bad for words, was the subject of solid last-minute backing. Even the night before it was stated more or less openly that Maunu was the “pea” for the hurdle race, but sora cover-astute ones would have none of him because they feared the other runners would not go slow enough. To cut the story short, Maunu was allowed to gain a large but not over-liberal an advantage, as it proved, for be floundered over the last fence, and just staggered home from Uncle Dave, who finished full of running. There was a wild demonstration, but nothing was done, and the dividends were paid out on Maunu without question. Later in the day it became apparent to the officials that some action should have been taken, and it was decided to disqualify the riders as stated. Action was not taken immediately after the race, as has been reported by some writers. The question is one ox adequate control. A deputy-stipendiary steward was sent to the Coast, where in effect keener supervision is required than almost anywhere else in New Zealand. It soon became known that a deputy was at the recent meeting, with the result that there were many happenings more than' suspicious. My informant states that when the crowd demonstrated against Maunu, the stipendiary steward mildly asked why the people were making a noise! This now notorious and sensational incident is likely to cause the Greymouth District Committee furiously to think. Recently matters had improved a little on the Coast, but this breakdown is the worst on record so far as control goes. However, it is an ill wind, etc., and possibly the publicity which will follow may prove the means of advancing one stop nearer adequate complete control of race meetings by competent stipendiary stewards.