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New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 202, 7 June 1894, Page 5

The Normanby Trotting Club stewards have arrived at an important decision in connection with their recent meeting. We learn from a Costal correspondent that they have disqualified Le Corbeau and the rider Keith for two years, and fined Mr R Lucena, the nominator of Le Corbeau, £7, because the horse took part in the Consolation Race run at their recent meeting without first having been placed in the starter’s hands. We suppose the decision of the Normanby trotting people will be forwarded to the Auckland Trotting Club for the purpose of gaining that body’s endorsement of the disqualification and fining, but before the A.T.C. take action in this matter it appears to us from what has come to our knowledge that careful consideration of the case is required. We find from reference to the programme for the meeting, that, with the exception of the first race, no . time for starting was advertised. We have been informed that Le Corbeau’s rider, Keith, left the saddling paddock for the starting post three minutes after the declaration of the handicap, and that he galloped to the post and arrived there in time. The horses which were there before Le Corbeau are said to have gone to the post determined to start no matter what handicap they received, and that if their riders had waited in the paddock for the declaration of the handicaps they could not possibly have arrived at the post before Le Corbeau. When Keith finished the race he was second, but on weighing in the starter stated he had never started, and then we are informed Keith used insulting language. If this be true the stewards should certainly have punished him, but under apparent circumstances it is a question whether tjiey should punish the horse or owner. And we think so for these reasons. They bad no advertised time for starting the last race, Le Corbeau is said to have lost no time in getting to the post, the race appears to have been run so late that it could not be seen whether the horses were galloping until they got quite close to the post, and the decision re disqualification, and fining was arrived at without any evidence being heard for the defence. On the night the meeting of stewards was held, Keith was too ill to attend, and Mr Lucena wired that information to the stewards. With that knowledge, and only one-sided evidence before them, it is very much to be questioned whether they had any right to disqualify a horse and fine his owner, and it is only right that the Auckland Trotting Club should clear these matters up in considering the action of the Normanby stewards.