SPORTING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 61, 17 July 1913, Page 5

SPORTING.

WOOTTON v. SIEVIER

A NICE BANKING ACCOUNT.

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press Association.] (Received 9.55 a.m.) London, July 16.

In the Wootton v. Sievier case, Sievier, cross-examining, sought to prove that AVootton won heavy bets. Wcotton admitted that the income tax commissioners claimed a tax on £17,000 of betting earning, but the claim waa disallowed on appeal. He denied ever betting against his own horses. Counsel for the "Winning Post" .Toss-examined him regarding his banking account. Counsel pointed out that £39,827 passed into Wootton's account in three years, 1910-11-12. Wootton admitted he sent between thirty and fifty thousand to Australia during the past few years. Son Frank had £31.000 invested in Australia. Witness admitted that possibly the large sums came from bookmakers, but denied winning even £25,000 in bets in six years.

Frank Wootton, in evidence, stated that he never pulled a horse in his life. RACING CONFERENCE. SIR GEORGE CLIFFORD'S VIEW. Wellington, July 17. In his opening speech at the Conference to-day, tho President, after speaking on other matters (referred to elsewhere), spoke of the faulty jumping of which had conspicuously marred recent steeplechases. This, he said, could not be attributed to the difficulty of the fences, and the explanation must rather be sought in the insufficiency of schooling given to then charges by trainers, or to a desire of riders to apply the short stirrup seat to a task for which it was obviously unsuited. If commonsensf did not provide a remedy, the Conference should take steps in that direc tion.

"The deliberations of this confer mce," added the President, "have ever been directed with disintrstednesF and singleness of purpose to the improvement of tho sport of racing, and to the establishment of a well-founded belief among all right-minded citi zens that it is a recreation which car bo blamelessly pursued by all classes as an health-giving, open-air pastime I regret the survival of conventiona' prejudice that restrains many ministers of religion from countenancing by their presence, a sport so devoid in this country, of obnoxious features ;n<l so well fitted to supply harmlessly that relaxation so urgently needed by every section of tho community in these days of stress' and hustle."