Fair Play to Class Trotters. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2199, 23 April 1896, Page 32

Fair Play to Class Trotters. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,- Being a constant reader of yonr sporting columcs, I have noticed the advisability of having "class trots" advocated from time to time, and the idea is approved of by some of our trainers and joekfcys, among whom I include Jimmy Allan. What was the attitude teken by' him on Easter Monday against Bltckrmith— a horse we can honestly term a " cla*B trotter " ? That it was planned by him and his stable mates to block that horse was plain to anyone who watched the race to sea. He was flwb blr eked by' one, then another, and erenfcually the rider on Sail Home kept his mouub galloping for about a quarter of a mile at the back of the course, interfering with BUcfc. smith all that distance. Is this sort of practice, to be tolerated P Is there no law connected with the rules of trotting that could ba enforced to prevent such a cjwardly bit of business occurring again ? I think ia a case ef this sort nothing but disqn&liflcation for life, or a number of years, would be an adequata penalty, because it might pay an offender well to undergo a fine in order to clear the way foe something that might be paying a big dividend? In the interests of true sport I would snggesC to the owner of Blacksmith to place the mutter before the Duoedin Jockey Club, and «cc what justice it will deal put to the offending parties. I venture to say without fear of contradiction, that if a ease like this occurred ia my native town— Tipperary,— a blackthorne ftick would have been applied to the cranium of some of tha offending parties ; for ia what manner did m rerfcaja iadfrictaal bebwo after thojAoeP— why*

he rushed at M'Kay, the rider of Blacksmith, like a chained lion, as if he were going to devour him without salt, and publicly declared he would "do him " every time he started ; making use of language whioli couitesy to your leaders will not allow me to express. Sir, co . long as this sort of conduct is allowed in out trotting racw, so long will the air in trotting circles remain impure, — I am, fc., Sjpectatob,