TURF TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2471, 24 July 1901, Page 52

TURF TOPICS.

At the Esseudon Police Court (Vie ), last month, A. L. Hall, hovseowner, of Bavwon Downs, sued J. Campbell, of Primrose street, Moonee Ponds, horsetrainer, for the illegal detention of two racing ponies, known as Eclipse and Finisterre, valued at £50 each, and Campbell claimed £37 6s for money paid, work done, and feeding and training the ponies. During the hearing of the evidence, Hall was asked : "Would you consider % racing steward a 'shark'?" "Yes, in many cases they are. — (Laughter.) I would ewe» that I did not tell a person that Finisterre had been 'rung in' at a race meeting held at Beach Grove under the name of Boadicea." "Did you ever 'ring in' a horse called Chatter?" "No." Do you admit having written a letter of which the following |3 a oopy: — "I won the Hack Race at Cressy thf day before yesterday with Chatter. It takes me to get them up for a race. I sent him to the post as fit as a fiddle, 9st up, one toile. He had them all beaten at four furlongs ,and won by three chains. — (Laughter.) He was at the scales when the last horse was turning int the straight.— (Laughter.) Hiey were all crying out, 'Good G ; what's that hi the lead? 1 Chatter ran in the namo < Mint, for I thought th?y could dc with a litile mint sauce foi supper!" (Loud laughter.) Witness: "I admit writing the letter, but ii was only a hack race." • (Laughter.) Campbell was ordered to restore -the two ponies, or their value (£100), and pay £3 100 611 cost*. The claim against ' Hall for training and «usteiuaice fees was dismissed. * W. Lake and E. J. Gough were found ruilty of foul riding in the Mount Gambier uup, at tii* Mount Uaubiei' (S.A.) races last

month, and were suspended for 12 month?. There were only four starters in the race — Little Martin and Stockman, both the property of Mr T. C. Wheeler, Light Joy. and Alannah. The stewards were requested before the event started to watch it olosely, and accordingly two of them were stationed at different parts of the course, one being on the hill, where the horses went out of eight, where the starter was also located. Immediately after the race they reported what they had witnessed, and both Lake and Gough were called in. So fai as can b» ascertained, Lake, who was on Little Martin, and Gough, who rode Stockman, are alleged to have twice opened up tor Light Joy to come in between them, but Boyle (her rider) declined the invitation, and came on the outside of Little Martin. Lake is then stated to have made an attempt to catch <iold of Boyle by the arm, but tbe latter expostuated, and pulling out on the road foiled him in his effort. On returning to the scale Boyle complained of the interference, though he did not lay any charge, and both the jockeys retired to the dressing room. There they exchanged blow?, Boyle bc'infe the aggressor, under what he considered great provocation. The boys were immediately called before the stewards, who charged Lake and Gou-gh witli foul riding, but iv the meantime Lake bad reported Boyle for striking him. Subsequently Lake withdiew his charge against Boyle. This, however, did not prevent the stewards proceeding with the more serious allegation, which resulted, as previously stated, in the suspension of Lake and Gough for 12 months. In connection with the Cup, Mr Wheeler laid a protest against Liglit Joy getting the stake, 011 the ground that Mr Piyder, owner, had touched her rider on the arm before being weighed in ; but the> stewards decided not to disturb the judge's verdict.

Jem Snovrd-^n, who at one time was one of England's best jocVeys, was a trifle too fond of be-iding I'is elbow, and more often than not appeared in the saddle when he was Lalf-seas over. At Carlisle, Snowden once rod 9 a norse for the late Harry Biagg, of Newcastle. Jem was in his usual condition, and experienced some difficulty in getting into the saddle, but once there quietly proceeded to the post. Bragg was a biggiih bookmaker, but on this occasion stood down and backed hie own horse, such was his confidence in Snowden. Having backed his horse for a large amount, he returned to the stand and viewed the race. To his horror, as the field turned into the straight for home, Snowdeu was seen to raise his whip, and the shout went up: "He's beaten." Not so, however, for Snowden won easily enough at the finish. The use of the whip at that juncture of the race seemed to the owner iuexplicable, so he said to the jockey: "IFemmy, what were you about with yonr whip when you came into the straight? You gave me a pretty fright." "Whip be ," replied the jockey : " that's a balancingpole. Why, I nearly "tumbled off." Thtie was another occasion 011 which Snowdeu was given a mount when by no means sober ; and in this instance he was asked not to win by more than a neck, it being a selling race, and the owner wished to buy hie horse back as cheaply as possible. Ii Jem did not carry out these orders to the letter, he certa-inly did the principal thing — won ; but he won by six lengths, and as a consequence the owner had. to go a considerable sum to retain his animal. A short tim* after this the owner met an intimate friend of Snowden's, and complained bitterly of the way in which he had won. Jem's friend was not long before he imparted the gift of the conversation to the jockey, but the lalter's only remark was, 'VTnou tell him lie ought to think himself lucky to win at all, as I saw five winning posts, and didn't know which was the right one." There can be small doubi that after this explanation the owner pocketed his wrath, and waa pleased to think his jockey had come out of the dilemma ?o successfully.