New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-26
THE JOCKEY CLUB.
1.-THE CHETwYND-DURBAM DISPUTE-THE
TURF IN GENERAL.

uHU CHETwYND-DURBAM DLSPUTE-THE
TURF IN GENERAL
pv>ou THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
LONDON February g.
Among the thirty-fve members present on tues
dny afternoon at Lord Hastingss house, IN bru'on-
st., were some Of the most distinguished men IL
England-men distinguished by birth' py postum
by capacities by spotless character. ihe 'ooAey
Club is perhaps the most difficult ciuo IN EhsI'nu
to get into; the most exciuslve' oeSoho al
question the most powerful Not few OF the
names on the list Of yesterdays meeting are
known in America as WELL or almost as WELL as
in England Is there an American who never heard
Of the Duke of Westminster He is revered on
the turf as the owner OF Ormonde, the best horse,
they say ever seen; with an unequalled record, all
victories and no defeat, and more great victories
than any rival One Of Her Majesty's judges,
most learned in the law, is there, Sir Henry
Hawkins The Duke of Beaufort is q household
word wherever sport is practised. The Duke OF
Richmond and Gordon and the Earl of Rosebery
are both ex-Cabinet Ministers Both have given
up racing but this is an event which has stirred
the racing world, past and present. to its centre,
and neither Of them stays away. The Duke
speaks blt Lord Rosebery is silent. Mr.. Chaplin
IS a Cabinet Minister in posse might have been
Inside that charmed circle to-day had he played
his cards cleverly. Earl Fitzwilliam is if not one
Of the greatest, one Of the richest mobiles in
England. Lord Abingdon is another. The Duke Of
Portland is Master Of the Horse to the Queen,
position moro or less connected with the turf and
he too, is possessor Of Of those vast fortunes
which have grown from the holding OF land
through successive generations of great families
There are dozen others equally deserving OF the
Intention Of the disinterested spectator.
This meeting Of the Jockey Club was summoned,
rs all the world knows, to consider the Chctwynd-
Durham case, but 1t has had one very unexpected
result. 1t has raised the whole question of the
present condition Of the turf, as l will explain
presently. AS for Lord Durham and Sir George
Chetwynd, neither has scored complete victory.
Lord Durham carried the meeting with him in the
opinion that Sir George ought to sue him for libel,
But the action when brought will go before arbi-
traitors. who are to be racing men. A British jury
of chcesemongers and diapers Will not, therefore.
have to decide whether Sir George Chetwynd has,
or has not, run his horses and managed his racing
affairs generally In accord with the prevailing
standard of what is called turf morality.
BY far the most remarkable incident Of this
august meeting was the speech Of Mr. Chaplin.
He and he alone raised in its broadest form the
question Of turf morality. After dealing with the
personal issue between Lord Durham and Sir
George Chctwynd, he startled his hearers by re-
minding them that Lord Durham's speech con-
tanned something beside an attack Sherrard's
stable, and Sherrard's jockey, and Sherrard's
patrons and employees. Lord Durham said he had
made his speech deliberately, on public grounds
with public ends, in the highest interests of the
turf Viewed in that light" observed Mr.
Chaplin, Z" confess that cannot regard it other
wise than as most grave and serious indictment
of the whole present condition Of the turf" The
counts of the Indictment were recited Surely"
said Lord Durham, the Stewards do not ignore
what every racing man knOws-namely, that one
or two jockeys bet in large sums and are the
virtual owners OF horses which run in other per-
sons Names The English Of this noble Peer is
less pure than his racing morals. What he means
IS that the Stewards arc not ignorant OF what
every racing man knows. That they have " 1g-
nored" 1t thus far is beyond dispute. lie thinks
the practice one which ought to be stopped; so
does Mr.. Chaplin; So doubt, does everybody
who knows what it implies and Who cares to see
the turf purified"
The next point became personal. " No owners
|. Of horses" said Lord Durham as quoted by MIR.
Chaplin, Ought to put up any jockey suspected
of, or known TO be, guilty Of pulling horses"
To condemn q man on suspicion is more French
than English but Mr.. Chaplin, regardless Of this
delicate distinction entirely agrees with his noble
=" But" he added there is only one jockey on the
turf that know Of at this moment whose pulling
up of horses is beyond dispute because it is by his
own confession and unless / am totally misin-
formed that jockey at the present moment is in the
maid employment of one Of the Stewards" MIR.
Lowther fitted this cap on and answered lie was
last season" /; which of course was after the Of
fence and the Jockeys confession. MIR Lowther
subsequently explained that Martin, the jockey In
question, had turned Queens evidence in the
Everett case. and the Stewards had therefore
hardened him. and Mr. Lowther thought he ought
TO have the full benefit Of the pardon and So
although contrary to what think is my usual
habit. did entertain two opinions about H. ne
continued to employ him. None the less do
think Mr. Chaplins shot went home. Then comes
quotation which Lord Durham perhaps heard
with mixed feelings:
Unfortunately I know. very many honest and
straightforward owners OF horses who employ the
Services Of q notorious jockey because he rides
well and because they adopt the selfish principle
that it is better to have him on their side than
against them.
Il do not know remarked Mr.. Chaplin dryly,
that should have described those owners as so
very honest and very straightforward" What
Is the outside public to make OF thisp Lord Dur
ham is the sef-eected champion of purity, and
Lord Durham is found lending his sanction to men
whom Mr.. Chaplin thinks dishonest. 1t is mon
srous, he continues, that any jockey notorious for
pulling horses should be employed, and he hopes
the Stewards will look into the matter. But
worse is to come. Lord Durham alleges that some
owners employ the wicked jockey because they
think he can square other jockeys in the race
and thus insure the victory for his mount if he has
backed it. Mr.. Chaplin's comment deserves
paragraph to ITSELF
All can say is, IL that is
true description Of the turf at the present moment
thr turf and racing has Dcrome a pursuit IN which
gentlemen ought no longer to indulge.
Well, it is Lord Durham's description. Lord
Durham has declared that everything he said was
said deliberately, and he is prepared to stand by
a. oil in a court Of law lie has the proof OF