New-York tribune., 1913-07-24
BRITISH TURF SCANDAL
Horses Win or Lose by Prear-
ranged Schedule.
EDITOR ACCUSED OF LIBEL
Robert Wootton, Prominent
Trainer, Brings Suit and
Gets One Farthing
Damages.
lBy Gable to The Tribune ]

London. July pa sensational turf
libel action showing the world of
British racing not by any means 50
clean and above suspicion as had been
thought, ended last night in a verdict
for the plaintfr Of one fsrthing dam
ages. Not for years has there been a
case which has excited greater intcrcs.
in turf circles. The crowd gathered
outside the Law Conrts awaiting the
result Of the action was so large that
, the police had 10 be called TO regulate
the traffic.
Robert S Sewer, the defendant. had
"a great ovation on leaving after the
jury had returned its verdict, when
hundreds Of people forced their way
ihto the forecourt Of the building and
surged around hun. shalIng his hand
and patting him on the back. An at
tempt was made 10 lift him shoulder
high. but this could not be effected, as
the crowd was so large. II was only
with the greatest dIfnculty that he was
able 10 press his way 10 taXicab. As
the cab drove of the crowd cheered
him again and again. and continued
shouting Bravo, Bob" for several
minutes.
The plaintiff IN the acton was Rich
ard Wootton. "a We'll known EPSON
trainer. and the defendants were Rob
ert Standsh Sievier. editor of THE
Winning Post" and the printers OF the
paper. The chief libeis complained Of
we're that the plaintiff was one Of a
ling of trainers who predrranGed the
results Of races and instructed the
joe KEYS to pull the horses when they
did not wish them 10 win.
The crownIng sensation of the trial
was the summing up of Justice Oar
ling, in which he dealt with the whole
question of the prevalent manner OF
riding horses in races and made a
pointed reference 10 the Derby fiasCO,
when Craganour was disqualified.
If crouching in the seat was the
cause of an alarming increase in foul
riding, il was time, said the Judge, for
those responsible for the conduct Of
racing to insist on its abolition. The
Judge also referred TO the large sums
earned by boys like the plaintiffs son,
Frank Wootton, with no bringing up,
no intelligence and no more manners
than any hoy carrying newspapers on
bicycle, and riding in much the same
position"
The inducements to recKlessness, he
added, were very powerful.
London, July 23-The fair name Of the
English turf received a blow in the de-
cision rendered to-day in a libel action
brought by r. WoottOn. a trainer against
Robert 5. Sevier, editor of the sporting
yaper "Tne Winning Post" Wootton,
who is an Australian. is one OF the most
prominent trainers in England. His two
sons are jockeys and in the constant en-
ploy OF the best stables. Mr. Sievier is d
well known racing man.
The Winning Post charged that
Wootton and other trainers and Jockeys
belonged 10 a ring which made enormous
sums by betting. first entering into an
agreement as TO which horses should win
or lose. and by other methods.
The trial occupied eight days and sew
cral men conspicuous on the turf, jockeys
and stable boys. testified for either side.
The jury gave Wootton one fartking dam
ages.
ON the witness stand Wootton admitted
that he had made fortune by betting
and that he had often won 5000 on
race. His son Frank amassed more than
$4,000 in a few years Of riding in Eng
land
Coming after the disqualification or
Craganour in the Derby, by reason of the
;oul riding of the jockey, the case has
created widespread feeling that radical
,urf reforms are necessary. Jus tice Oar
ling before whom the action was brought,
declared strongly that the style OF riding
viii short stirrups. introduced Ly Amer!-
csn iockeys. gave the jockeys less control
nj thoir horses. and much humping and
fo,h riding were due TO this. He recon-
mepdcd that the Jockey Club take action
an this matter. The jury indorsed the
JUDGES recommendation