The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-24 00:00:00

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

TIIE LATE CROYDON STEEPLECHASE-
GREAT CRY AND LITTLE WOOL.

The suspicions and distrust which the recent
" doings" at Croydon excited are not likely to be
entirely removed by the decision which the stewards
of the meeting promulgated on Monday last. In-
deed, that decision is regarded by a large majority
of the sporting. public with considerable dissatis-
faction, and it is, undoubtedly, calculated to in-
crease the feeling of discontent which the whole
affair has excited. Charges implying the most
disgraceful conduct were openly made, and it was
expected, from their grave nature,that they would
be publicly proved, or publicly rebutted. A jockey
was openly accused of tampering with his weight,
and several persons, who have been long connected
with the turf, were pointed out as his accomplices.
The suspicions which were entertained were not
expressed by mere inuendoes, for they were noisily
and angrily uttered. Indeed, with so much vehem-
ence did certain persons give vent to their dissatis-
faction, that, with few exceptions, the entire sport-
ing community, became inoculated with their
doubts, and received the announcement which was
made by the stewards, of their determination to
enter into a searching investigation of the matter,
with no little pleasure. After the lapse of a fort-
night, however, and a delay which served only to
stimulate their curiosity, the stewards have issued a
notice which has, as we have already stated, caused no
little disappointment and grumbling. That an affair
which has caused so much sensation in racing circles,
an affair which involved the gravest charges of dis-
honesty, should be disposed of by the flippant
words of the announcement excites wide discontent,
especially after the bother which was made about
procuring evidence, and the intimation which was
given that the stewards were thoroughly in earnest
in demanding a full explanation of what appeared,
and does appear, to be a very ugly business. The
public is not satisfied, and they now fancy that the
whole affair assumes the shape of a compromise. If
there was any foundation for the charges which
Mr. Harrison and others made, it should be indi-
cated ; and if the individuals who were accused of
malpractices be innocent, they should take measures
for the vindication of their character.

The stewards are clearly blamelble for a derelic-
tion of duty, in allowing the alleged doings at
Croydon to be thus cavalierly disposed of. They
were responsible on accepting office for the manage-
ment of the meeting, and to them the public looked
with confidence, believing that they would do all in
their power to cause the proceedings to be carried
out in accordance with the principles of honesty
and fair play. These remarks do not apply exclu-
sively to the stewards of the Croydon Steeplechases
—for, unfortunately for the interest of the sport,
many gentlemen accept the office of steward with-
out ever thinking of the responsibility they incur,
or imagining that any duty attaches to their posi-
tion. The alleged misdeeds at Croydon and the
lame and impotent conclusion to which the busi-
ness has been brought, has inflicted another heavy
blow on the popularity of the sport, and sore dis-
couragement on those gentlemen who have endea-
voured to promote the prosperity of an attracttvo
and thoroughly English pastime.—Sunday Times.