ALLEGED DOPING.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, 22 August 1923, Page 5

ALLEGED DOPING.

MORE SUSPICIOUS CASES. - Strong suspicions are entertained by the trainer of Gunroom 1 C.' Cooper that the maxe was the victim of doping before going out to compete in the Malvina Welter, the last race at Caulfield on Saturday week, says the Melbourne representative of the Sydney Morning Herald. Gunroom was quietly fancied by Cooper and her owner, Mr. H. A. Hay, as she had run a good race at Flemington a fortnight earlier, and had galloped well in the interim. It came as a. great shock to them to see the mare finish second last. R. Lewis, who rode Gunroom,, subsequently informed Cooper that the mare went all right for about half-a-mile, and then attempted to run off the track.

After the race Gunroom was wild with excitement, and almost unmanageable, while her eyes were dilated. Convinced that something had happened to her, Cooper hurried Gunroom to Mr. S. O. Wood’S veterinary hospital,, which is _close to the racecourse. Mr. Wood examined the mare, and though unable to state definitely then what was the cause of her condition, he informed Cooper that she showed all the symptoms of having had a strong injection of cocaine. Mr. Wood took samples of Gunrom’s saliva, and these will be handed to the chairman of the V.R.C. stipendiary stewards, to be submitted to the Government analyst for analysis.

Recent happenings indicate without doubt that there is a gang of men engaged in the malicious practice of doping racehorses on Melbourne racecourses. A few weeks ago Santa Anna was evidently attacked by a “doper” before running in a race at Sar.down Park, for which she was a hot favourite, only to fail badly. Mr. Wood describes the cases of Gunroom and Santa Anna as being much alike.

Another case, in which the horse affected showed similar symptoms occurred at the last Ascot meeting when the Red Denis pony, Lady Norman, after finishing second to Genatus, developed a highly excited state,, her behaviour being similar to that of Santa Anna and Gunroom. Captain, at the Bendigo meeting, was another instance in which doping was suspected by the horse’s trainer, Captain’s symptoms being like those of the other horses.