ORBY LAD BARRED

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 133, 7 June 1937, Page 13

ORBY LAD BARRED

ECHO OF OFFICIAL ACTION

(Special from "Irvingtoii.")

CHRISTCHURCH, June 5,

The action of the stipendiary steward in debarring Orby Lad from starting in the Wai-iti Handicap at the recent South. Canterbury Jockey Club's Meeting on the grounds that he was not in a fit condition to race has raised considerable discussion, and it is freely stated that interesting developments are likely to rise from this case. It seems that in adhering to his opinion that Orby Lad was not in a fit condition to start, Mr. F. J. Beer, the stipendiary steward, overruled the verdict of the club's veterinary surgeon's examination of the horse. On tho day after the races Orby Lad's owner had the horse examined by a Christchurch veterinary, who agreed with the Jockey Club's surgeon and gave a certificate declaring the hope to be in. excellent health, an opinion that was shared by all the New Brighton trainers who have observed Orby Lad in training over a long period.

Mr. Beer's authority to prevent unfit horses from starting has not been questioned, but in view of the expert opinion which hast been gathered regarding Orby Lad's condition, the sucgestion that stipendiary stewards should have their views confirmed by veterinary surgeons before declaring a horse unfit has been put forward and strongly supported by owners and trainers.