THE DISQUALIFICATION OF JENKINS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 28, 28 October 1907, Page 8

THE DISQUALIFICATION OF JENKINS.

.; Tho nows of tho sentence, passed upon C. Jenkins by . tho 'Wangamu : Metropolitan officials caused a deal of surprise in sporting circles, for it was generally reckoned that, should any-of-the charges against this gifted horseman bo sustained, the case would bo met >by tho imposition of .-a lino. ho was, but, in addition, lie had his . license withdrawn;'and:that at a time of tho year when ,its loss'will he most keenly felt. Jenkins had been engaged to rido Apa ■ in the New Zealand Cup, and had first-class ytiiounts throughout the meeting; in fact, ho .was,so placed that had things come .his way i -,- his earnings might' havo.totalled any; sum from .a couplo of hundred to a thousand pounds. It will • thus hoi-seen that- .v .vory heavy sontonco has been apportioned him, and one which ho/has scarcely merited; It ■will ho femembered that at tho Marton Mcetv ...ing in; September the crack horseman was fined £5 for breaking away at tho start of-a ...race,' and, at the■,conclusion .of tho Flying Handicap later on in the day, : incurred; tho •wrath of tho stewards:for;using' indiscreot language to the ; judge, arid was consequently penalised a further live pounds. .Apart Trorn his .'disagreement with the" judge's decision;' Jenkins was, no "doubt, excited by the previous trouble with the starter, or he would never have lost his head as he did. A jockey of < his long experience, must surely havo encountered'. similar V disappointments from judges on different occasions, so it , scorns fair to assume that he was suffering from undue oxe'itdment whotr-he had words .with tho Martoiv official, and, all points eon'sidercd, the original fines imposed.upon'him seem to havo been severe ''< enough.'■■'■. In' conwith the Linkless incident at Bulls, ■-. tho matter appeared to havo ended when .the. complaint. was dismissed by tho Rangitikei ; : ~' stewards, but the Metropolitan body has now imposed a fine .'for the alleged offence. An-

'. othor question also arises. If the. Metropolitan Club lias arrived at a fair decision '•' ''.' ■ on this matter of jostling,' it is palpable that , tho Itaiigitikei Club has lamentably failed in ■ its duty. This, however, is scarcely con- .-'. . ceivable, for' one would expect that the stewards at Bulls would-be in the better : position to adjudicatq;fairly on the complaint : . lodged, no matter how much . evidence' tho authorities at Wanganui could collect.. • • The.opinion has been freely expressed that . .Jenkins would appeal'against .the'sevcra sentence passed upon him, but.this the Bulls horseman'has no intention of doing. He is, hopeful that, after a Short'period of suspension, he will be again granted his license, : and in the meantime ho intends to look after : himsetf, arid," ;is far as possible, retain his ■ form. Jenkins has been in.the saddle for ■many years, and, by diligent application to his calling, he,has attained the,rank of premier horseman in tho Dominion.'' .There is no, department of his profession in which: lie • does not excel, and since Hewitt left theso shores tho_ Porirua horseman has been, in a. class by himself. Starting as an*apprentices r. * ' with W. Homes, ho gradually worked-.to the i\ ' top of the ladder, and for , tho past ten years V there-.has always been a-large demand.-for.,! > his services. Since his■ association with*tho ij . Porirua stable, he.has frequently-been made I ' largo offers from differentipafrts'of. tlio-'Poniiiv-I ionj but he wcll.:sa.tisne'd,"ito leave! the;! ij establishment which' has;>sheltered so many ?:. champions, and afforded'-Kim;.?siic,h-.'Splehdid. J • opportunities. Off the turf Jenkins i 'has ; 'be6ni f* an exceedingly well-conducted young "nianj I .: and , in this respect, ho is a,striking;contrast ' to nia'ny of our younger j h6'tis'eme'n > iwhof'.by,: h 'their loose methods, bring so much,discredit , jon the sport. Always a gri-at favourite, ho . has,over and over again, evoked, enthusiasm-, .', . by• his clever finishes, and there is a universal expression of sympathy with him in . r • 'the' present trouble. During his retirement, racing will be'robbed of..a.dcaLof.intevest,.for. : the spectators and owners will sorely'miss his >; services. . Whenever ho applies for rein- '. statement, I sincerely 'trust that he will.'io ;..- favourably treated by the Wanganui Clttß.*"*

NOTES AND COMMENTS. The owner of 'Frisco and 'Apa 'went South by tho Mararoa on Friday'night'in order io see his Cup candidates gb'through -theirfinal gallops. ■ Mr. "Preston" was very unluckywith Apa last season, and now he is unable ;to have the services of Jenkins to .pilot th a Addington gelding at Riiicartori:'' : In spita of this last stroke of misfortune, the Marton owner is very hopeful of winning the New Zealand Cup with one of his horses as Tilley has them both in fine .fettle. "•■.". ■.;.:■?■'£■. ,"!.: ;!■!;:: !';■ Full Rato will be shipped to Riccarton tomorrow night to fulfil his engagement '-n ,tho Stewards' Handicap. On his Masterton running he does not look to be in anything like his best form, so thalwhis chances in th° South: cannot be given much consideration. The gallop on tho first day'at Opaki evidently did him.no-good, , for his performance on the .Friday was a/very poor'one.• Owners and trainers are reminded that nominations for all events at tliOj Fcilding Jockey Club's Spring Meeting (except the Scurry) close with the; sccretary v on Wednesday next, at 3.30 p.m. Entries for the Scurry will bo received until November 19, Tho Fcilding Club has ~ii"reputation for giving liberal stakes, and this year's spring programme is no exception'to .the rule. Tho St. Andrew's Handicap, run on the first day, ■over' a mile and a half coursp/fisoiyorth 325 sovs. to the winner, .very largo entry. In the hack' events there is plenty of variety, ...the.. distances ranging froni five furlongs\tb a imla'indi.a while the stak6s. ofFered'-aro largo. . . - . I Waikaraka is again-in .work at .Bulls,' but it will bo some time before ho is completely recovered from his accident. :-v-.Y -■•'-• Interest now centres in tjio Jockey Club's Spring.-: Mooting, which commences next Saturday. iTjie only meeting during tho week is that of tho Gore Racin-? Club, which takes place on Wednesday Thursday. . • .. Mr. "Westerley," who bought- Squattar last Christmas ■ aftor this gelding' had epm- . poted unsucessfully at Awapuni, won his lipk raco with him at Gisb'orhq last Thursday. Ho wa_s not present to see his horse win, but tho.dividend would suggest that he. was not unprepared for his victory. . . The Stake and Splendid Idea, in charge of T. Wilson, will remain at Masterton until ' after the Taratahi Meeting. G. Price is ono of our most energetic horseman, and is always in tho best of condition, as ho is never out of the saddle. Tho Wanganui ( jockey returned to Wellington, lato' on Friday evening, was out at tho Hutt riding work on Saturday morning, and the same afternoon was exercising some two-year-olds at Wanganui. Ho returns to Wellington to-day, and leaves for Riecarton this evening. H. Hickey is taking Black Reynard £o Christchurch to-morrow night. J. Half goes down by the same bo'at to ride'the , R'ey-, uard gelding in his engagements. ■ ' ' Next Saturday, in addition to the C.J.C. Mooting, the sporting public will liavo much to interest thorn in the V.R.C. Meeting, which opens at Fleinington. Tho principal nice on Saturday istho Melbori'riio S'akes, a weight-for-age run over ono and a quarter miles. The decision of this\evc!it' generally throws much light on the Melbourne Cup, and, if the Now Zealand horse Apologue wins, he will probably start tbo hottest favourite in tiie Melbourne Cup since. Revenue's year. Final payment of 10 sovs. for tho Now Zealand Cup is due on Wednesday night. Gold Crest, Bst. 31b., is a sure starter in the Stewards' Handicap. As.yct it has not been decided who will ride tho chestnut colt; Lut it is to he hoped that a first-class horse-

man. will bo .obtained, who will do justico to tliis'-gootVspriutd'r.'>'V ,'■'■.-■ ■'■■;. '; Tho owner of May King, tho Moonto Vnlloy Cup winner, was carpoted by tho stewards during tho Caulfiold Meeting. Matakokiri's form on the second day at Trentham was a long -way behind that oxhibited by 'tho Snrncen''gelding on the concluding day at Mastorton.