HOW A GOOD MAN " FELL IN."

Otago Witness, Issue 2325, 22 September 1898, Page 36

HOW A GOOD MAN " FELL IN."

It is to be feared that on the turf a good deputation sometimes covereth a multitude of sins ; but it seldom happens that a,, man falls In "on acount of his general popularity, lne 'exception which proves the .rule, however, is jamusingly related by " Javebn of the Melbourne Leader. At a provincial meeting of iteonsiderable local importance, two horses, &which may be called A a-nd B, were engaged Sn the principal handicap, and belonged to a jtoealthy resident of the district, to whom Icricket, football, and racing clubs, mechanics , institute* churches, and charities never appealed in. vain. He was open-handed in the j highest degree as a supporter of everything j Worthy of support; but on the turf, though jßEew expected it, he was as hot ac mustard. A Svas the equine champion of the district, and fcven with top weight the big handicap looked j a moral for him ; while B comparatively un- , f-nown, and with a light weight, was also a ft)it of a dazzler, though. nobody knew it but Sfche owner and trainer. On the day before, the toeeting commenced the township was crowded With visitors, and the betting 'was pretty heavy. . JThe popular owner, having satisfied himself fihat ne could win the big race with either torse, decided to work a great coup by stopSing A, who was a red-hot public favourite, Snd winning with B. Trainer and jockey were accordingly, a couple 'of clever agents got a heavy stake on'B for the owner, «md this, is how it worked out : A won, _ B gunning second, and as the owner, white with 'I'age, demanded an explanation from the ferainer, the latter said, "You shouldn't lose your temper in such a hurry! They haven't in yet ." The sly rascal, while •*' loyal " to his master, had hit upon a means "jbf working the oracle without running the risk jsvhich the pulling of A would have involved. <As*the winner returned to weigh in," horse, owner, and rider received an ovation," and as ! Jhe jockey stepped upon the scale the president : and members of the committe stood round in toll the importance of officialdom. " Look (here," whispered the honorary weigher, in a "state of manifest agitation, to the president, >'he'B 21b short!" "Sh!" promptly rej§ponded the president and committee, evijdently actuated by a feeling in common* "'"Let it go, let it go; Mr Woolking is a ■fiplendid supporter of sport, and it would be a 'cruelty' to play into the hands of those fetched bookmakers at his expense by upsetling the judge's verdict." So, after a moment's hesitation, the honorary weigher tailed out " Right ! " and cunning Mr fWoolking's most 1 painful experience — next to settling — was receiving congratulations on 1 his "' well-deserved victory' with the top weight, had always run in, tho interests of the jpublic."