RACING IRREGULARITIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2604, 10 February 1904, Page 49

RACING IRREGULARITIES.

THE PALMERSTON INQUIRY.

(By Ova Special Reporter.) PALMERSTON, February d. The inquiry into the circumstances connected with the running of the Novel Handicap at Palmersion races en New Ytar"s Day was resumed before the stewards of the Palmersban Jcckey Cub this evening. Mr Clark presiding. It wiil be remembered that the inquiry was adjourned for the pioduction of further evidence after the evidence of M'Lean (a jockey) had been taken. It will r'.so be fresh in public memory that at the first sitting of the inquny Llojxl (a jockey, who rode Flossie in the race) was disqualified for two years ; that John O'Connell's license was suspended for the season ; that M'Lean was disqualified during the pleasure of the stewards, and that Coghill (the reputed owner of the horsa Saladm) was severely cautioned. When the stewards met this evening it was announced that Coghill. J. Sheehey (reported as part owner of one of the hoises prior to the ra-ces), L. Lloyd, G. Leslie (reported as having purchased the horse Saladm), and John O'Connell had been summoned to attend, but had not appeared.

Correspondence was first read,

B. S. Irwm, solicitor, wrote stating that he had received a letter from Mr Coghill, who was desired to attend the inquiry, but Mr Ccghill had intimated that he could not possibly pttend. If the stewards could adjourn for, say, a week or 10 days he would attend, as he was most anxious to clear himself from the stigma attached to him.

John Sheehey wrote acknowledging receipt of the summor.s. He did not ?ee that he could throw -any light on the subject as he sold Saladm on December 14 1903.

Mr G. Leslie telegraphed — " J. O'Connell owns Sakidm now Broke down bad-'y at Tapanui, and I made him a present to "him. No use to me." This was in reply to a telegram from the secretary in the endeavour to find cut who owned Saladm, one of the horses in the race. Saladm was stated at a previous sitting to bslong to one Coghill. At the Tapanui meeting the horse was sold by one of the O'Connells, wbo gave his name es James O'Coimell, who who was al l ege.d to bs John O'Connell, to G. Le3ire. The horse was returned over the railway in the name of O'Conrell. The statienmaster at Palmerston wrote tbat, in reply to verbal inquiries, he had to say that on January 26 Mr O'Connell consigned the two horsss — Saladm and Patron — to Tapanui. Thess two horses were returned to Palmerston on January 30, and a certificate to the effect that they were unsold was handed in at Tapaimi, and the horses were accordingly carried back free.

The secretary to the Dunedin Jockey Club wrote stating he had handed the Palmerston Club's secretary's letter addressed to Mr Coghill to Mr B. S. Irwin, solicitor, who at once opened it. and informed the writer that Coghill sold the horse on the eve of the Tapanui meeting to George Leslie for £25, and that O'Connell wired for instructions to sell. If it were proved that the hcrse was sold and returned unsold it would be a case for action by the Railway Department.

Another telegram from Leslie read as follows- — "Purchased Saladm from John O'Connell per Irwin, solicitor. He wired liwin sale only veibal authority. I notified secretary of change."

The Secretary to the Dunedm Jockey Club wrote that he had received information that Ss'achn was sold to Leslie, and it would be advisable to ask O'Connell what authority he had to sell the horse, as at the inquiry he stated Coghill was the owner. O'Connell stated at Tapanui that it was not he but his bi other who got into trouble at Palmerston. If James O'Connell wps not at Tapanui John O'Connell was representing himself as James.

John O'Connell wired — " Regret cannot attend meeting. Home Saturday."

The failure of those summoned to app«ar necessarily rendered useless a list of questions prepared for them to answer.

Mr R. Templeton, secretary to the Waikouavti Jockey Club, was called in leference to a statement made by E. M'Lean at the last sitting that John O'Coim-ell threatened to injure him (M'Lean). Mr Templeton said M'Lean made no complaint to the stewards officially, but said something to one or two of the stewards. M'Lean stated that O'Connell had threatened 'if he wfi3 riding again 3t him (M'Lean) he (O'Connell) would kill him or break every bone 111 his body. Three of the stewards at the Waikouaxti races posted themselves at different points to watch the race M'Lean was riding in, but John O' Cornell did not ride. O'Connell said to witness that there would be trouble when he (O'Connell) met M'Lean, and M'Leau would get his neck broken. A request was made to witness to endorse a license for Dan O'Connell to ride Patron at Palmerston, but it was refused.

Mr M'Kellar And according to ths evidence M'Lean was engaged a fortnight before to ride Patron? — Witness said neither John O'Connell nor Lloyd was allowed to ude at the meeting. It was noted by one of the stewards at the (inquiry that the mare Flossie, owned by R. Riddle, of Palmerston, was looked upon by her owner as right for the race, as she went out over-weight, and he had investments on her. A Steward a3ked if there was such a person as Ccghill. Mr M'Kellar replied that Coghili was a clerk in Air B. S. Irwiu's office.

The stewards then went into committee. wh"n a large amount of verbal evidence gathered in Dunedm was produced by 0112 of the stewards. Upon resuming, at iras reported that Jo'iia O'Connell, rider of Salad jn 111 the Novel Kandicap, had been disqual.fied foi 10 3'ears from January 1, 1904 for corrupt practices, and fined £5 for "training horses without a license ; th^t James O'Connell, owner o' Patron, which horse wa.i interfeied with in flic Tree, and Robert Ri.ddle, owner of Flossie, the mare di?qu3hn>d after the race, had both been disqualified for five years for suspicions practices , and that the horses Flos^is, Patvon, and S?ladin (running in the race) had been disqualified for five years. Lloyd's di->qiuiiificatio lof tv.o years was allowed to reran ui as at pre^jnt, and it was decided with reference to his application for leave to work 111 a stable that he be lef erred to the metropolitan club The disqua. fication of E. M Lean, rider of Patrcn, who at ih~ fh =-t siutinct of tlxa uiauJXJU wu tUwkut-ifitil dm..i»

the pleasure of the stewards was fixed at one year. It was decided to severely caution Mr Sheehey (owner of Saladm previous to the race), and to fine him £5 5s for failing to l.olify a change of ownership. It was stated that had this char.pre of ownership been notified the stewards would have bsen on the walch, aad the irregular practices would never have been, perpetrated. The stewards entered mlo an informal discup&ion as to what should be done in the matter of appointing another tieasurer, the treasurer of the Jockey Club being one of the persons disqualified for suspicious practices It was decided to lea\e the matter over till next meeting. Tho opinion was expressed by the chairmsn oncl Mr M'Kellar that the club, having been put to heavy expense through the inquiry, should be allowed a totahsator permit next year, in stead nf having to wait till the fo" ! owing year as under ordinary circumstances. Votes ot thanks were unanimously passed to the chr.irruan (Mr Ciaike) for presiding, and for the fair and impaitial manner in which the proceedings had bceii conducted; to the president (Mr M. Spencer). Mr M'Kellar, and Mr C .vynne (hon. secretary) for assistance in procuring evidence and endeavouring to get at the bottom of tho affair and biing ths offenders to justice; and to the representatives of the Palmeiston Times a.ad Otago Doily T'imea, the o;iiy nress representatives who had attended any of the sittings of the inquiry. This concluded the business.