A REMARKABLE CASE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2762, 20 February 1907, Page 50

A REMARKABLE CASE.

A remarkable affair which happened at the recent Egmont meeting appears to call for ventilation, and if one side of, .the case 1-, true the matter demands the fullest investigation by the racing authorities. On the second day of the meeting in question a horse won a race, but was disqualified for failing to draw its weight. The third horse was disqualified for a similar reason, and the race awarded to the horse which ran second. The horse which finished fourth was placed second, and the dividends declared accordingly. Then tho trouble commenced. It apppars that the horse which was awarded the race was freely supported at starting- price in the various centres, and the fielders who laid the commissioners their money are strongly inclined to the belief that the fact of two placed horses failing to draw weight was more than an accident. The fielders held a meeting to consider what action they should take in the matter, and it is understood that some of them decided to pay <>\eryone. except those who placed what was believed to be commission money. Others again paid everyone. Those who protested against payment did so on the ground that the first and third horses failed to draw weight in order to make the second horse receive the full dividend, but this in a measure was partially circumvented by tho fact that the horse which finished fourth was subsequently placed tPooTid, and its backers received the second dividend. The writer i« unable to present the other side of the question, as only a ■very meagre report of the meeting came through; but taking this ease with other happenings in the North Island ii appears absolutely necessary that, if the sport is to letain any ''prestige or respectability it is imperative that * a closer watch '■hould be kept over some of the northern meetings. Of course, if the horse that was awarded the race had not been well backed, no doubt nothing further would have been heard of the matter, but it is the weight of money which i& at stake that gives force to the argument of the fielders that the turf in the North Island is not all that it should be. At meeting after meeting it is common to hear of a ton of money lieing placed at starting price, for a hor£« whom we will call "B." A horse, say "A' 1 le also in the came race, but does not cany a copper of commission money ; but on the second day, when meeting again, all themoney ie on the latter, and nothing for the well-backed winner- of tho- previous day. It is reasonable to assume that the winners over a- horse in one race will entrust it with a little money at the next time of starting. But no! On the other hand, it is in turn friendless, and what makes the matter look open to question is the fact that it is alleged that it isthe same people who ar« backing both horses. Surely the handicapping cann-it be so bad that the winners of the first day should be- entirely neglected ->n the second day of a meeting. Another and lie biggest argument that bomething is wrong is the fact that the majority of the M&rting price men have been very hea^ v los< rf , and no =anp man who takes a close and intelligent interest in racing: would believe that bookmakers can continuously lose money if ail the hoi«es run on tbeir merits.