BANISHED FROM THE TURF.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VIII, Issue 384, 2 December 1897, Page 11

BANISHED FROM THE TURF.

We abridge from our Australian exchanges the following particulars concerning the disqualification of Parthenopams and his connections : — One of the most sensational developments that has yet occurred in the annals of Australian sport took place when the committee of the Victoria Racing Club banished from the turf for life Samuel Allen and Thomas Arnfield, two of the best-known bookmakers in Australia. This heavy penalty was incurred in connection with the performance of the racehorse Parthenopaeus —which is owned by these two bookmakers —at the recent V.R.C. Spring Meeting. In the Spring Handicap, on Oaks Day, Parthenopseus started at an outside price and lost, after being “injudiciously” ridden. The keen eyes of the handicapper were, however, on the son of Splendor, and the vagaries of the jockey did not lead to any reduction in the weight the horse was allotted for the Final Handicap, run on the Saturday. On the contrary, although the distance was the same and the company to be met practically the same, Mr Dakin raised Parihenopseus 41b, just as he did in another well-known case in which his suspicions were strongly aroused. In the latter case the horse did not start, but the Parthenopams people were not similarly deterred, for not only did they start the horse, but from all quarters came heavy bettors to back the good thing. Chief amongst the visitors who were prepared to finish up the meeting with a plunge were a number of well-known Bendigo sportsmen, and to this significance has been attached the fact that one of the owners is a Bendigonian. The

double-event bookmakers say that different individuals never ceased coupling the fancied candidates in the previous races with Parthenopseus, and when the time came for the execution of the commission the money on the hill as well as in the paddock was literally piled on Parthenopaeus, who came with a rattle from 10 to 1 to 7 to 2, despite the fact that several commissioners were at work on behalf of other horses in the race. As to the result, Parthenopaeus won comfortably ; in fact, the issue seemed to be hardly in doubt. The inconsistency of the horse’s running in this race and in the Spring Handicap was so great that it at once commanded official notice, and the parties were called on to undergo the orceal of cross-examination by the stewards. In this trial P. Guinane, the jockey, and A. Ferguson, the trainer, both failed to remove the suspicions of the committee, who, on the other hand, felt so satisfied that the running had been crooked that they disqualified both jockey and trainer “ during the pleasure of the stewards. ’ Up to this point the owner or owners of the horse stood exempt from punishment; but the V.R.C. stipendiary steward, Mr C. F. Fraser, assisted by Racecourse Detective Wright, set to work to discover whether a statement that had been made by Allen that he did not back the horse in the Final Handicap was true or untrue, and whether he and others shared the responsibJity, along with the jockey and trainer, for the pulling of the horse on the Thursday. The inquiries by these officers of the club brought out most interesting disclosures. Information came to hand which greatly magnified the gravity of the case, and the V.R.C. committee summoned S. Allen, the nominal owner, and T. Arnfield, a suspected part owner, to stand their trial. JSumerous persons who were known to have backed the horse were called by the committee on Monday to testify with regard to their operations. These were questioned by Allen and Arnfield as to whether they (the witnesses) had acted as commissioners for them (Allen and Arnfield), and they denied that they had done so; but the committee saw reason to accept this disclaimer with considerable reserve.

As if to emphasise the discomfiture of their position, the jockey came forward with an unqualified confession, which gave the inquiry a new and sensational turn. He had failed to attend the inquiry on November 14, and when he was asked on the Tuesday by the V .R.C.

officials to be present he decided to do so. In the meantime he consulted a solicitor, with the object of preparing a sworn declaration telling the story of his own guilt and the guilt of others. He was impelled to do this, it appears, on account of the fact that the others had failed to meet his proposals as to monetary support after his disqualification. In a word, he came to the conclusion that to save themselves the other three — Allen, Arnfield, and Ferguson —were inclined to sacrifice him, and he, therefore, determined to make a clean breast of it, and place himself in the hands of the committee. The statement he made was most ample and definite, and the committee was impressed with its truthfulness. The contents were not definitely disclosed to the press, but in its general effect Guinane accused the three others, and more particularly Ferguson, of fradulent practices. He says he pulled the horse on the, Thursday because Ferguson told him to do so. He found the going so well at the abbattoirs that thereafter he ran as wide as he thought he safely could. Further statements he made indicated that the “ roping ” was done with the connivance of Allen and Arnfield. Allen declared that he was the sole owner of the horse, and that Arnfield had not a partnership interest in the animal; but on that point the committee were dubious, the opinion being that the evidence tended' to connect Arnfield with the horse to the extent of having a voice in the question whether he was to run to win or not. When the evidence had been completed the committee deliberated for about an hour, those who took part being Messrs 8. Miller (chairman), O. M. Lloyd, W. H. Croker, E. Manifold, P. Russell, R. Power, A. M’Cracken, and F. Madden. The verdict that was read by the chairman to the accused quartette was as follows : —“ It having been proved to the satisfaction of the committee that Samuel -Allen and Thomas Arnfield have been guilty of fraudulent practice with regard to the running of the horse Parthenopseus during the recent spring meeting of the V.R.C., the said Samuel Allen and Thomas Arnfield are hereby disqualified for life, and the said horse Parthenopseus is also disqualified for life. The disqualification already imposed on Andrew Ferguson and Patrick Guinanehluring pleasure will remain.” The sentence was naturally a great shock to the pair who are chiefly punished. Occupying leading positions, as Allen and Arnfield did, in the ring, the severity of the sentence can be imagined. They will now be prohibited from betting and denied admission to the racecourses of Victoria, and of the other colonies as well. In addition, they will, of course, sever their connection with the Victorian Club, and any horses they may individually or jointly own will not be allowed to run. Some years ago an arrangement was entered into between the English Jockey Club and the racing clubs of Australia to recognise the penalties imposed by established racing institutions, and to make them apply, not merely in the country in which the offence has been committed, but under all British racing clubs. Both men are wealthy, and have only recently returned to Australia from a trip to Europe.