FOUL. RIDING

Hokitika Guardian, 30 December 1921, Page 3

FOUL. RIDING

SUPERVISION OF RACING. AUCKLAND, Dee. 27. Prior to thii start of the racing at the Auckland Racing Club’s meeting on .Monday, the jockeys were addressed by Mr Fil'd Earle, K.C., chairman of the stewards. The subject ol his address ua- tin- matter ol Imil lining and interference. Lo which attention has been called by sporting writers throughout the Dominion. Mr Earle referred to the interview given to W elliimlon Pressmen by a prominent jockey, who had lately returned from England. in which that jockey had stated that riding on English courses was very clean ami fair, and he asked whether that cm!'l I"' conscientiously said of riding in New Zealand, lie had grave doubts about it. He reloj'red to the Press comment upon this subject and said he feared it was entirely justified. The Auckland stewards find giv-

en the matter anxious consideration and had concluded that the racing at Ellcislic might not have been sufficiently supervised, and that the penalities bad lien inadequate. By way of remedy, they proposed to materially increase the supervision, hv stationing memlieis of their body at certain van-

taye points, thereby assisting the stipendiary steward, who for various reasons was compelled to view the racing from the stewards’ stand. Further, it' was intended, seeing that light, penalties had not, had a, deterrent effect, to materially increase the penalties in all well proved cases. Ife made an earnest appeal to the older jockeys to co-oper-ate with the stewards in their efforts to put down the evil complained ofi and to set an example to the younger ones. He appealed to them all to play the game, give their competitors a fair chance and he sportsmen. Tie reminded them of the; dangers of their calling in these days of big fields, where a breach of the, Thling rules might) lead to a tragedy. These rules, lie said, were devised by men of racing wisdom, for the purpose of ensuring fair play to all and for llie further purpose of safeguarding the lives of the riders. Air Earle was attentively listened to by tbe jockeys and was loudly applauded by them at the close.