TRAINING A RACE HORSE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2369, 17 December 1921, Page 2

TRAINING A RACE HORSE.

CLAIM FOR EXPENSES AND COMMISSION.

At the local S.M. Court yesterday, before Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., Dennis McCauley (Mr Bergin) claimed from William Sexton (Mr Ongley) the sum of £l4 Is 2d. Mr- Bergin, in outlining the case for the plaintiff, said that McCauley had been engaged by defendant to train his horse. It was agreed that plaintiff should get £3 per week

and the usual commission for wins. Payment had been made regularly for a while- The horse had one win, and shortly after fell in a hurdle race and broke down. McCauley sent in his account'for expenses incurred in looking after the horse and for commission due to him from the win. This had not been fully met. s

Dennis McCauley said that he was ;i horse trainer, employed by Mr Carter. Some time back Mr Sexton had asked him to train a horse for him. This he agreed to do after getting permission from his employer. It was arranged that he should receive £3 a week and the usual commission, 10 per cent of the winnings. He had been paid the first few months, and subsequently the horse won a bracelet valued at 85 guineas,' at Waipukurau. Shortly after this the horse fell at Hastings, and broke down. He looked after the horse, and brought it down to Foxton, where the owner took possession. He then sent in an account for money due to him through expenses incurred, and the commission due. Mr Sexton paid him £8 8s at the Otaki race meeting some time ago, but had made no payment since of the balance owing.

Mr Ongley pointed out that there were several over-charges in the account.

William Sexton, in giving evidence, said that he had never previously owned race horses. He did not know anything about commission due to trainers for wins. He had agreed to. pay plaintiff £3 a week, but knew nothing about the commission, which plaintiff alleged he had agreed to give him. He paid him £8 Ss at Otaki ,and thought the matter was squared up. The account had one or two mistakes in it.

The Magistrate said that it was a custom for trainers to get commission. Judgment was entered up for the plaintiff for £l4 Is 2d, with costs £4 4s.