A JOCKEY’S CAREER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5309, 1 April 1878, Page 3

A JOCKEY’S CAREER.

(From the ’Melbourne Leader.) A case illustrating the hardships of a jockey’s early life came under the notice of the Bench at the District Court on March 13. Charles Ivemy, a lad about eighteen years of age, the well-known jockey, proceeded against Mr. Phillip Dowling for neglect of his duty as a master, aud sought the cancelling of his indentures. Mr. McKean appeared for the plaintiff, and in his opening statement explained the peculiar features of the case. On the 25th of March, 1873, the boy was apprenticed to Mr. Dowling to be taught the art of riding and training horses. The indentures were for seven years, and in addition to his instruction the boy was to receive a salary of £5 per annum and his board and lodging. He remained at Mr. Dowling’s stables for nearly three years, during which time he had to get his food as best he could, and cook it himself, and was not provided with proper sleeping accommodation. In January, 1876, Mr. Dowling was disqualified from training or running horses by the V.R.C., and three horses, named Vagabond, Ethel, and Solicitor, owned by the late Mr. Petty, were removed from his stables and taken to Ballarat. Mr. Dowling had told the plaintiff that he could go away for a change, and Mr. Petty offering him the charge of the horses at Ballarat he accepted the engagement. During the last two years the boy had maintained himself by his own exertions, and had succeeded in obtaining the position of one of the best jockeys iu Victoria. At the end of 1877, Mr. Dowling's disqualification was removed, and two days afterwards an announcement appeared in the newspapers to the effect that the plaintiff had left Mr. Dowling’s service without his sanction, and persons were therefore cautioned against giving him employment, in accordance with the rules of the V.R.C. The boy then found that Mr. Dowling, after consenting to his getting his own living, and learning his profession elsewhere for over two years, had brought up the old indentures and disqualified him at the V.R.C. Mr. Bagot, the secretary of the V.R.0., informed him by letter that he must get his indentures cancelled by the city police magistrates before they could interfere, and hence the present proceedings were taken. The lad was examined, and fully bore out the facts just narrated. Mr. Dowling had known where he was all the time he had been away, and had frequently met him in Melbourne, but he never hinted at his returning to his apprenticeship until after his disqualification was removed. Two other witnesses were called, but Mr. McKean requested the other side to put Mr. Dowling iu the witnees-box, as he wished to ask him if it was true that he had asked plaintiff to “pull” Vagabond in the last Melbourne Cup. Mr. Frank Stephen, who appeared for the defence, declined to call his client, and contended that the indentures were still binding, as the boy had run away from Mr. Dowling's employ without his sanction. After a short deliberation the Chairman announced that the Bench had unanimously decided to cancel the indentures and release the plaintiff from all obligations under them. Notice of appeal was given.