ACCIDENT AT RACES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 150, 8 July 1905, Page 2

ACCIDENT AT RACES.

ALLEGED FOUL BIDING. During the running of the fifth race Bt the Gisborne Racing Club's Steeplechase meeting yesterday a serious accident occurred. The horses were racing up the straight when Te Uka, which was lyiog third and ceming with a fast rUD, was seen to fall heavily, and Motokehu, which was directly behind, also came down. The rider of Te Uka (Alfred Neal) was knocked uncoosoious, and had to be carried to the grandstand, while Trgger, the jockey on Motokehu also received a slight shaking. The stewards deemed the matter of sufficient importance to hold aq inquiry into the running, it being alleged that the accident was duo to foul riding on the part of the jockey on Flag, who was stated to have drawn across Te Uka, bringing the latter down. The Chairman, Mr D. Hepburn, said that there had evidently been a cross, and it was as well for the stewards to inquire into tho matter. All witnesses were ordered out of the room.

Mr Hepburn said that evidently the boy on Flag had drawn in and crossed the other horse. A number of stewards besides himself had seen the accident. Mr Oman said that Te Uka had no right to come up on the inside of Flag. The latter drew out a little and then closed in again. The previous day he had pulled out into the middle and then ducked in. Mr Wyllie stated that he was watching the race, and it seemed to him that Te Uka galloped close the heels of Flag and came down. Mr H. M. Porter said he saw Te Uka come down. It seemed to him that the horse swerved over another horse. The evidence of the jockeys was next taken. Jack Trigger, rider of Motukehu, said that tho first thing he saw after rounding the bend was a horse down in front of him. He saw nothing of a cross and could not say what caused the fall. The horse was right in front of him and he ran into it. No one interfered with him duriDg the race. W. Kirk, rider of Tiromoa,-said that it appeared to him that Te Uka was trying to get up inside of two horses. He did no notice anyone pull in in front. Henry Fairbrother,' rider of Cinque, briefly described the race. Coming round the bend Ladylike was leading by three lengths from Flag and his horse (Cinque) was lying third. Te Uku came with a fast run from the turn and passed witness. There was ample room for three or four horses to come np on the inside. Both the riders of Ladylike-and Flag looked round and Malone deliberately pulled across Te Uku. It seemed to witness to be a deliberate cross. When witness palled np he said to Malone, “ Yon arc the oause of this accident, Steve.” , Mr Barry : Do yon think ha did it deliberately ? ■Witness : It appeared to me that he did it deliberately, for there was ample room for three or four horses to get up on the inside. Continuing, witness said that the aocident caused hiß own mare to blunder. But for tho cross Te Uku must have run into seoond place,, as he was galloping very fast at the time. ■ » To Mr Williamson : Malone came right in and crossed Te Uku. Flog wbb two lengths ahead of Te Uku, but was falling back all the time. He had himself got up on the rails often and won races. Devery, rider of Ka-y, said that Te Uku seemed to slip in under the rails and then drop back agaio. He saw no interference on the part nf Malone. There was not room for Te Uku to get up on the inside. Mr Martin: If wo told you that Te Uku bumped against Flag’s hindquarters and fell, you would not say that it was not so? ■Witness : No, I would not. I did not see it.

Steve Malone, rider of Flag, stated that he was riding on the ra'ls. He heard something go behind, and looking round saw that Te Uka was over. Witness was riding within a couple of feet from the rails. Ho did notfeol his own horse struek

in any way, and the horse was not in any way stopped.

To Mr Barry : Witness was quite sure that he was not ten or twelve feet away from the rails. Te Uku did not in any way bump Flag. Mclntosh, rider of Ladylike, stated that Flag was racing close to the rails, but as he was in front he could not say how near,

Neal, the rider of Te Uku, who was interviewed by the steward?, said he called out to Malone to. pull out, but the latter deliberately pulled in and caused him to fall. There was room for three horses to get up on tho inside, and he considered ho was quite justified in taking that running.

Mr Williamson said that the evidence wa : 3 absurd on the face of it. If there was room for threo horses to get up on the inside, why did the rider of To Uku call out.

A. Pritchard, clerk of the course, said that as far as he could see the horse fell on his own. Flag was a conple of lengths in front of To Uku, and had the inside running. She was nine or ten feet from tho rails.

Tho stewards decided that there had been no deliberate cross on tho part of Malone, but they considered it neeessary to reprimand him. Addressing Malone. Captain Tucker warned him not fcj give way to any tricks which would spoil his future career or destroy the confidence that the stewards had in him. They did not find that he had deliberately pulled his horse across the other, but as i; was not the first time suspicion had been attached to his riding they deemed it necessary to warn him. He advised him to at all timeß adhere to, the strict rules of racing, and do nothing that a jockey ought not to do.