RACING W. D. Skelton Thinks His Suspension Too Severe

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31003, 8 March 1966, Page 4

RACING W. D. Skelton Thinks His Suspension Too Severe

"The Press’* Special Service . LEVIN. W. D. Skelton feels that the suspension imposed on him at Trentham on Saturday was, under the circumstances, too severe. He was suspended until 5.0 p.m. on March 16, four days’ riding. Skelton was suspended for allowing his mount, Tara’s Pride, to run in slightly inside the final half-furlong of the Thompson Handicap. My Call, which was racing inside Tara’s Pride appeared to be hampered when the interference took place. Skelton said that the film showed Tara’s Pride ran in on May Call about half a dozen strides from the line and that N. E. Eastwood, the rider of My Call, had to check his mount. When the interference took place, My Call was three-quar-ters of a length behind Tara’s Pride and the latter’s rump came in contact with My Call’s shoulder. Skelton feels that he had My Call beaten and that although the horse had plugged on well to win at Bulls he could not have made up a length to head Tara’s Pride. The suspension will mean a big loss in income for Skelton. He had a full book of engagements for the second day of the Napier Park meeting on Wednesday, a full book at Trentham on Saturday and

a full book, bar one, on the first day of the Taranaki meeting.