THE PALMERSTON RACES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1898, 6 April 1888, Page 25

THE PALMERSTON RACES.

(editob witness). Sir, — In your issue of to-day appears a letter under the above heading, signed " Benj. Bray." My first impression was to treat it with the contempt it merits; still if -allowed to pass unchallenged, it might be" thought there was some truth in his complaint. I therefore crave space to reply to same, and will place the tcue facts (not garbled ones) before the public, and allow them to judge of the conduct of the aforesaid sportsman {sic) by rushing into print with such a cock-and-bull story. Had I any desire to retaliate, I assure you the opportunity is not wanting, and could ask this self-styled sportsman how about the action of the stewards (of which he was one of the principal ones) of-, the Waikouaiti Club, first in allowing one of the riders in the Hurdle Race at the last meeting, when not able to record his weight, to leave the weighing tent, and rush about to find bis. horse and get some portion of his equipment, so as to make up the proper weight ? Again, how about the race for the Maiden Plate, in which Mr Bray's mare ran inside one of the posts, and consequently was protested against; does he consider the matter was properly investigated ? If he does, I can assure him the public present at the meeting do not, because myself and several others can prove by unimpeachable evidence that if justice was accorded the protest must have been sustained. But, Sir, in mentioning these trifles 1 do so, not with the intention of vindicating, our club, because there is nothing to vindicate, hut simply to show that people who live in glasshouses should not throw stones. Had he not by inference attributed underhandedness to myself with other officials of the club, I would have treated his letter with silent contempt,' Now for the facts. To saverecapitulation I will admit as correct his version of the affair regarding the misprint about the 9st ; but there was only . one jockey. ' Tripp, who rode, Stable Jacket, that weighed out at Bst, had to be called back to weigh correctly ; the reßt of thu jocks were weighed out at their proper weight, 9st. After the race the winning jockey (Poppleton) could not turn the scales upon his return to weigh at his weight, 9st, being about lib short, but after obtaining his rubber, which he weighed out with*, he was weight, and was justly declared so by the' clerk. Mr B. states that Mr Jeff, owner of the winner, and a steward were called in, but that he, Mr 8., was not allowed further than < the doorway, &c. Now he must have known when penning- that sentence that it was a false one. Mr Jeff could not get any further than Mr Bray— viz., the, doorway,— the place being too small to admit anyone whilst the jockeys were weighing. It was myself who called Mr; Jeff (he being one of the stewards appointed by' the committee to attend to, the horses and jockeys when, weighing in) to keep the clamouring crowd from the door interfering with the jockey and clerk, and that is why, and only why, Mr Jeff appeared upon the scene. It being almost dark when the weighing was taking place, I had to strike, and hold matohes for the clerk to see the scales, and can certify that, the jockey was the correct weight after getting his rubber, and that nsither Mr Jeff nor anyone else had anything whatever to do in the matter except .the clerk of the scales — Mr Jeff having no more to do with the weighing than Mr Bray, himself. The above are the facts of this unpleasant business. 'The clerk's book is open for the inspection of any interested person.. ■ , , . [ • , Mr. Bray's concluding remarks from the sentence commencing with "Surely," &0., I would 1

suggest, that he read, learn, and inwardly .digest. He might then discover the way to remove the beam out of his own eye before attempting to cast out the mote out. of his brother's eye.' Apologising for the length of this. — I am, &c, J. T. GWTNNB, Hon. Sec. P. and S.V. Jockey Club. March 31. '