WEST COAST NEWS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2292, 3 February 1898, Page 32

WEST COAST NEWS.

By Totaba. January 26. "A Twisted Plate." The old adage "You must go from home to hear news " is being still further exemplified. A twisted plate is the owner's explanption, in a letter to the Referee, of Epaulet's most feeble display in the Greymouth Cup. It seems strange that we did not hear that excuse on the Coast. If Epaulet did twist his plate I think it must have been done before the start, and not soon after starting, as Epaulet was hopelessly in trouble from the rise of the barrier. As to Epaulet being lame, I could not detect it. I can vouch that Epaulet appeared to walk as sound as a bell when he was parading ia the saddliog paddock the second day with his saddle cloth number on. It is a pity the owner, when he took up his pen at all, did not give the public some explanation why he accepted with Epaulet in the Grey Valley Handicap when he was on paper treated bo harshly as to he asked to giva Uillstone 301b when the latter easily defeated Epaulet in the Greymouth Cup at a differenre o

only 161b. He might also, when he was using the peu, have given an explanation why Ejiaulet was actually weighed out and his number exhibited and then very hurriedly scratched. I was greatly astonished to read " Castor's " remark? in the Canterbury Times in the issue of the 13th inst., referring to the Grey mouth Jockey Club's recent races. One would imagine from the scathing tone in which " Castor" writes that the grossest of turf immorality was perpetrated at the Greymouth Jockey Club's meeting. If the Greymouth Jockey Club did wrocg, I would not hesitate for a moment to comment on it and bring it under the notice of the public ; but the meeting in question was conducted in a most creditable manner. The only point where I think the Q. J.C. erred (and I made reference to it in a previous issue) was in not holding an inquiry into Epaulet's rui.ning in the Greymouth Cup, in order to obtain an explanation from the owner and trainer in regard to tbat horde's dismal display. As to what would have resulted from that investigation would depend entirely on the evidence ; otherwise the G. J.C. carried out its responsible duties fairly and honestly. lam not a champion of any particmlar club, but I cannot allow " Castor's " ill-natured and palpably incorrect remarks to pass unnoticed. As the West Coast sporting correspondent of this journal I paid most particular at r entiou to evoy race at tho G.J.C.'s meeting, and I consider that from my experience of racing I am competent to judge whether there was stiff or inconsisieut running at, the rapetir.g, aad I say emphatically that " Catto-r-s " remarks are not warranted by factf, and challenge "Castor" to point out the btiff and inconsistent running at the meeting. "Carter." was not present at the Grej mouth Jockey-Glub r-aees or at any meeting oti this coa<t this summer, and I am greatly surprised that he Bh.-uld -be led away by absolute hearsay and pen BUGh a. grossly and palpably unfair article. In my opinion ihe -G.J C. deserve credit from "Castor" instead of being -deliberately seated. As to the latter poition of " Castor's " lemtiks, it appears to savour of a ceitain amount of ; pleen. A little bird whispers that "Cistcr" had an unp'easant experience on his visit to the Coast in March 1896. It saerns mo.-t peculiar that " Castor " should pick upon the Greymouth Jockey Club's tecent meetiDg, which was conducted in a most creditable manner, and allow the Reefton aud Westland Racirg Club's meetings where there was room for comment, to pass unnoticed.

A typographical eiror crept into my remaiks ia conn-ctiou with the Westland Racing Club's recent meeting, which read: "The hor-es were ke> t out in the straight waiting ever so 1 ng in rain to (Law the 1 isfc pound from the public for the lotalisator." It would appear that the horses were kr-pt out in the rain, whereas it was a beautiful day. It should have read : " The horses were kept out in the straight wait'ng ever so loug. in order to drain the last pound from the public for the totalisator."

The We-stland llacirig Club has a large number of men employed, improving the couise. I un'trstand that the clu>. intend makir-g further improvements after the Easter meeting. I believe one of the imf>r iveiixents is to take the hill away.