There's
an old saying that goes something along the lines
of "a secret isn't a secret once more than one
person knows about it".
Such
was the case in February 1950 and a sad lesson to
be learned for then big punter and prominent owner,
Harry Whittle, who was based in Sydney. Harry was
very keen on a horse called Corinthian that was due
to compete in a race at Canterbury.
Being
a student of form, Whittle was convinced that Corinthian
was close to a good thing and its only danger was
a three year old entered for the same race called
Auburn River.
Auburn River was trained at Newcastle by Keith Tinson
and owned by a pretty sharp operator called "Scamp"
White.
Whittle
happened across White a day or two before the big
plunge race was due to be held and called him aside
asking him if Auburn River was fit because he thought
Corinthian was a real good thing if Auburn River needed
a run or two before showing its best.
White
didn't say much - just listened to Whittle's big wraps
on Corinthian - and, at the end of one way conversation,
told Whittle to 'put a couple of hundred on Corinthian
for me'.
Whittle
took this to indicate that Auburn River wasn't fit
and the green light was on for the big plunge on Corinthian.
(What was that about assumption being the mother of
all stuff ups?)
Come
race day and Whittle, who was a big punter, put heaps
on Corinthian. No sooner had the commissioners got
together after raiding the betting ring, than an avalanche
of money came for Auburn River at bigger odds than
what was expected and the horse duly won by eight
lengths.
Whittle immediately realised that he'd been ''scalped"
by White who was a pretty shrewd punter himself and
allowed Whittle and his commissioners to make the
market on his Auburn River before punting it himself.
It was estimated that around $20000 was invested on
Auburn River - a huge amount in 1950.
Whittle
was furious and, without thinking clearly, went and
complained to the stewards (!!) who were most bemused
and told Whittle it had nothing to do with them and
that Whittle had simply been dudded by White. However,
in unusual circumstances, because Whittle had "given
them false and misleading evidence", according
to the stewards, they disqualified him for
12 months.
Nothing
like this had ever been recorded before in Australian
racing and, as far as can be ascertained, nothing
like it has happened since.
White
must have been nearly gagging as Whittle spilled the
beans on Corinthian. Whittle must have walked away
thinking "he's a quiet chap".
The
moral to the story? I'm sure you can write that.
