CROOKED RACING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1148, 11 April 1912, Page 8

CROOKED RACING.

Referring to the recent operations of _ the alleged “jockey’s ring” the “Canterbury Times” is very outspoken. “For a long time past,’’ says our southern contemporary, “it has been apparent that there was a lot of crooked running on North Island courses, while cases of interference have been growing increasingly frequent. In this latter connection, in fact, it has become quite a usual thing to look for stories of horses having their chances spoilt by unwelcome attentions from other competitors. All the time, too, there has been an unpleasant feeling that the situation was ruled by a small coterie comprising some of the leading jockeys. Just how far their operations extended could only be a matter for surmise, but it has been freely asserted that on many occasions the owners interested were quite as much in the dark as to what was doing as the general public. The existence of a “jockey’s ring” has been frequently spoken of, and though laughed to scorn in some quarters, there can be. no doubt that something of the sort has been operating for a long time past. Its effect has probably not been felt much at Riccarton meetings, but the questionable tactics have been introduced by northern riders at times on other South Island courses. We do not wish to suggest that the jockeys in this island are all models of virtue, but in the main they are simple as babes compared with their northern rivals when it comes to the baser tricks. On their own ground the clever members of the North Island contingent make it very hard for an outsider, and more than one southern owner, after an experience of their tactics, have abandoned all further ideas of racing their horses in that part ' the Dominion, feeling satisfied that they had only a gemote prospect of success under the existing conditions. The good sportsman does not mind being beaten, but he likes a fair run, and that he certainly does not always receive if he sends his horses north.”