HOSTILE DEMONSTRATIONS BY THE PUBLIC.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 736, 14 April 1904, Page 6

HOSTILE DEMONSTRATIONS BY THE PUBLIC.

During the recent racing carnival at Riccarton and Ellerslie there occurred two of those very hostile demonstrations against winning horses which go so far to mar the enjoyment of that section of the public who go a-racing for the sports’ sake alone. At Auckland it was the Napier mare Madrigal which came in for the unwelcome attention of the public. On the opening day of the meeting Madrigal was very strongly, backed by the general body of punters for the Eden Handicap, in which, however, she could get no nearer than a poor fifth. On the second day of the meeting with a drop of seven pounds in weight the mare beat a much stronger field in the Huia Handicap, winning by two lengths. There is no disguising the fact that the reversal of form was most marked, and a very angry demonstration on the part of the public was the not altogether unnatural result. The stewards, taking action on their own iniative, very speedily solved the mystery. It came out at the enquiry that on the opening day the mare ran without plates, and performed so much worse than her connections expected that the experiment of running her in plates was tried, the result being that the daughter of Stepniak won both her subsequent races. The good that such an enquiry did is very obvious, for it completely exonerated the from any suggestion of unfair .

play and conclusively proved that once again the outside public had allowed their feelings to get the better of their judgment Mr Lowry has the reputation of being one of Lhe straightest goicg of owners, and very general regret was expressed on all hands that his wellknown blue and gold colours should have to come in for such hostile treatment. Thu other public outburst was at Riccarton and was directed against Martian after the English-bred colt had won the Twelfth Challenge Stakes. It is not the first time that Mr Stead's colours have been so received, but on this occasion the exhibition of disapproval on the part of Christchurch racegoers was very strong indeed. That the display given by Martian in the Great Easter Handicap and in the Challenge Stakes were of very unequal merit admits of no dispute whatever. In the Great Easter Handicap Martian carried 7st 41b, and was one of the last all the way. Next day, when the going was much I heavier, Martian, with a pound more in the saddle, won the Challenge Stakes in but a fraction of a second slower time than the Great Eister Handicap was won in. No doubt many people will argue that there is absolutely nothing in a time test; but even so it must not oe overlooked that, quite apart from the fact that Martian beat such a smasher as Machine Gun, and also a’good colt like Treadmill, Stronghold was unplaced behind him at but three pounds difference in weight. Now only the day before Stronghold had cantered home in front of Golden Lily in the Champagne Stakes and Golden Lily herself next day was found equal to carrying top weight of 9st 71b in the Autumn Nursery to victory. There is no gainsaying the fact that the performance of Martian in the Challenge Stakes was as good as his effort in the Easter Handicap was bad, and the great outburst of hooting was only to be expected. If the stewards had met no doubt some satisfactory explanation would have been forthcoming which would have accounted for the unequal running of the colt, and it was only fair to Mr Stead that such a step should have been taken by the stewards of the Canterbury Jockey Club. These gentlemen are appointed to safeguard the interests of both owners and public alike. The latter demonstrated very forcibly that they considered an explanation was needed, and it must not be forgotten that it is virtually their only way of bringing the matter under the direct notice of the stewards. An owner of the status of Mr Stead deserves every consideration at the hands of the O. J.C. stewards, and an opportunity for the required explanation might well have been afforded Martain’s owner. The duty of the stewards was clear, and the fact that instead of adopting the correct course, as did the Auckland stewards, they preferred to do nothing will be regretted by the great body of racegoers.