Melbourne Blacklegs.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 309, 8 June 1889, Page 3

Melbourne Blacklegs.

[from OUB OW.V COBBESPOXDENT.j MxlboPrnx, June 20. Some ugly disc'osures are being made respecting the doings of certain racing men, and lam afraid that the most fitting term that can ba applied to some of these proceedings is the old-fashioned one—** rascality.!' Borne of the suburban raac-meetings are > garnjog a bad name, end when blackguardism culminates In fisticuffs, the stewards should taka warning. The beat way of settling betting disputes is not that of smashing umbrellas end walking-sticks across each other's heads; besides, the proceeding does not improve the tone of a race meeting. A jockey, who shows a disposition to f. C'. honorably and ride straight, in defiance of his owner's instructions, is "supported" in Jais honest intentions by being disqualified Jor life, and is hushed |up by those with whom gain and roguery are exchangeable terms. This is ban—very bad. So is that of a jockey who wae dissmissed who ff won" honestly when he was required to lose dishonestly, Then we have the very common fraud o* a field of hajf-a-dozen horses runpup in the earns interest, enabling the monied owner to have it all his own way, ■fid shamelessly plunder the public; some stewards calmly looking on. They may not connive at such dishonest practices, but they do nothing to prevent them. It is about time the Victorian Racing Club piit their fest down upon such proceedings.