Calypso’s view

There is such a strong horse connection to all the players? I find the dates of Amritsars doping, Miles being charged with hiring someone to keep watch, Underwood’s connection to the Governor of South Australia, seeds and riding boots all lead me to think murder then government coverup.

The owner of Warlaby stud in Oaklands Victoria and V.R.C committee member Mr E.A Underwood was the breeder of Daffadar owned by Sir Willoughby Norrie the Governor of South Australia.Underwood was also the owner of 1948 Melbourne Cup favourite Lungi , until the horse was injured on the 21st October 1948 and ended up being used as a stud.Other favourites for the Melbourne Cup that year were Dark Marne, Royal Gem, Beau Gem and Crown Gem, Royal Gem was also bred at Underwood’s stud.There were many big name horses in the Glenelg area in November 1948, one news report reads, 15th November 1948 Comic Court back in his Glenelg stables after travelling between Melbourne and Adelaide via train.

Underwood and the other committee members overturned the Dick Turpin ban after it was discovered the horse had been doped with Benzedrine for his Flemington win ( Argus 27th October 1948).It appears Mr Underwood may have been naive as a news article under the heading of “Black Market Betting” reads, Mr Underwood said he did not believe there was a blackmarket in betting but the newspaper challenged this by saying ” if Mr Underwood is sincere in his belief then he is out of touch with the betting side of horseracing”

Horse doping was happening at the time as further inquiry’s revealed. One article dated after S.M’s body is found, “a stablehand reports finding a broken bottle and tablets at the Gibertaon’s stables in Glenelg.”

Underwood’s horse Amritsar went on to be doped with Strychnine at Moonee Valley in Victoria on the 27th of November 1948 which launched a huge inquiry. At the time Underwood is quoted ” I hope the individual who gave the colt the needle will be tracked down, this sort of thing sickens one” During the inquiry a witness couldn’t be located even though police looked as far as Brisbane. In December stable hand John Miles was found guilty and banned for 5 years. ” Miles was found guilty of a charge of an improper practice in as much as he endeavoured to secure the services of an apprentice at the stable to assist him by keeping watch to permit him to administer a stimulant to Amritsar “So Miles had hired someone to keep watch, that someone was never named. The vet Dr Bordeaux on examination of the horse stated ” the job was done by an amateur, my experience tells me that a professional would have gone about the job in a very different way”During the investigation Miles admitted to doping horses before so was he an amateur or professional?S.M. had grass seeds on his pullover, singlet and on the trousers in the suitcase. Barley grass grows in most of the southern states of Australia, the grass is fed to horses but not the seeds as they aren’t good for them.I can understand him having seeds on his socks or trousers from walking around but pullover and singlet?Could Carl Webb who we now know enjoyed a bet on the horses and had feet consistent with wearing riding boots ( or high heels) have been working around horses?Hired as an amateur to dope a horse or hired to keep watch? Did he head to S.A to recieve payment? Buying a one way train ticket may not be confirmation of an intended suicide but that he had another mode of transport planned for his journey back to collect his suitcase? Prosper’s taxi service maybe, phone number in his poetry book and Prosper offered race meeting and long distance service.Another point of interest was the news report dated November 10th 1948 has the upcoming Royal visit with the royals visiting Morphettville Racetrack on May 28th 1949.Queen Elizabeth spent a day at Underwood’s property in 1954 during her Royal visit

.Maybe those in power really needed the story of horse doping, gangs, missing witnesses and bodies on the beach to go away before the Royal visit?

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