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CONTEMPTIBLE TRICKS IN AUSTRALIA Cruel and Unusual Methods Employed by Some of the Rascals on Australian Turf Some of the contemptible tricks used on the Aus ¬ tralian turf are discussed by Musket the well known contributor to the Sydney New South Wales Referee He writes writesIt It never rains but it pours Last month was remarkable for the number of records established in the different states by various horses in the matter of new times This month records of a different order are being made We are being treated to some of the tricks thought to belong to the bad old days daysAt At the recent Narromine races Rrittox which was made favorite for the Novice Handicap ran sixth The judge however as recorded by our correspond ¬ ent last week placed him first and the bookmakers paid all wagers Then the Western Racing Asso ¬ ciation as will be seen hi another column dis ¬ qualified for life the judge and a bookmaker bookmakerNext Next from Melbourne word came that oue of thn fences on the steeplechase course at Flemington was tami ered with prior to the running of the big steeplechase last Saturday The inside top rail of the jump near the training sheds was sawn almost through and the padding then carefully replaced Just about an inch of beam was left to hold the top rail together but it was so well covered up that nothing of this was noticeable In the first round all the horses managed to get over this fence without clouting but in the nest round Booligal and Doiran hit it and the rail was displaced hence the discovery of what had been done doneTONGUE TONGUE TIEING A FAVORITE FAVORITEA A ease from Queensland however surpasses these shady transactions according to the following tele ¬ gram from the Brisbane correspondent of the Ilef eree ereeA A sensational incident was associated with the Farewell Handicap at Townsville after which the favorite Etal was found with her tongue tied near the root with a piece of tape A Thompson was to have ridden the mare but complained of illness and Council was secured The mare knocked up in the race At an inquiry on Saturday night her owner W D Connack disclaimed any know ¬ ledge of the mares tongue being tied and said it was at Thompsons suggestion that he engaged Cou ¬ ncil Two independent witnesses Messrs Tunny and Paul residents of Townsville stated that they saw a small fair mail tie the tape on Etals tongue and that Cormack was leaning on the rail of the stall at the time with his back to the mare Thomp ¬ son was not then present but it was alleged that several times during the day he had been seen in conversation with a small fair man Thompson however denied any knowledge of the affair and denied knowing a small fair man manAnother Another witness stated that at Thompsons re ¬ quest he put 2750 on Etal in the last race at Rockhampton Scott trainer of Etal said both Cormack and Thompson had told him they owned Etal and in Rockhampton Thompson showed him what looked like a stamped receipt receiptHOW HOW THE CROOKED GAME WORKED WORKEDWitness Witness asked Thompson to ride Ilekesbaurne at Rockhampton and told him he thought he was sure to win Thompson said Do not back him today but back him on the last day They did not back him and Thompson won The next day when they backed him Thompson pulled Bekesbourne up Witness went to Townsville to get square and made up his mind that if Thompson rode Etal he would go to the stewards and get him taken off After Rockhampton Thompson showed him a receipt and said I own the mare now and I have dumped them themSeveral Several times when witness was away from Etal on Saturday either Thompson or his wife or Cor niack was there When the second race came on witness went over to the betting ring and asked Tunny to keep an eye on Etal When he came back Tnuny told him a man had been tampering with the mares mouth Witness looked at her mouth and found the tongue tied with tape Paul also told witness that he saw a slight fair man tampering with her mouth Witness subsequently said to Mr Fanning one of the stewards that there was something wrong with Etals mouth but he wit ¬ ness was not to blame Witness did not say any ¬ thing to Cormack because he knew he would let Thompson know that witness knew knewScott Scott was exonerated but Connack Thompson and the mare were disqualified for life The fair man James Berry was later caught at Stockholm1 and prosecuted for his share in the nefarious transaction
