Out for Life After Two-Horse Contest

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 160, 27 September 1927, Page 10

Out for Life After TwoHorse Contest

Owner Punished for Unseemly Conduct JOCKEY’S FIVE YEARS BATHURST, Wednesday. Another act in one of the greatest sensations in the history of western racing has been staged, as the result of which Mr. J. Cowell, a leading trainer-owner, of Eugowra, has been disqualified for life by Mr. W. H. Hogan, W.D.R.A. stipendiary steward. The disqualification is the second arising out of what is known as the Buckinette case. Some weeks ago Roy Chapman, a successful lightweight jockey, of Forbes, was sent out for five years for the alleged pulling up of Buckinette, *a speedy Buckwheat mare, in a race at Canowindra. on July 7. In the last race Buckinette. ridden by Chapman, and Baroness Beaumont, with A. Davidson in the saddle, were the only runners, the former being an odds-on favourite. When the pair raced down the straight, with Buckinette ahead, it was alleged that Chapman glaringly stood up in the stirrups. Even then Buckinette was beaten only by inches. There was a hostile demonstration against Chapman when he returned to the bird cage, but he merely laughed and lifted his cap to the epithets hurled at him. OTHERS BLAMELESS Immediately Mr. Reg. Mitchell, assitant W.D.R.A. stipendiary, instituted an inquiry, at which Chapman, it is alleged, admitted pulling up Buckinette, but for what reason or for whom he refused to say. All the other connections were held blameless. However, the W.D.R.A. officials have since been closely investigating the case, and recently a sensational development occurred. Chapman is alleged to have made certain startling revelations to Mr. Hogan, but the purport of these was not disclosed. Thereupon a sworn statement was obtained from Mr. Cowell, who was racing Buckinette at the time of Chapman’s disqualification, but when requested to affix his signature to it he is said to have refused. It is alleged that he tore the statement to pieces, which he threw in the stipendiary’s face. Then Mr. Hogan disqualified Cowell for life for alleged unseemly conduct. BOOKIES’ STATEMENT Two well-known bookmakers were also alleged to be implicated, and Mr. Hogan secured sworn statements from them. They declared that they had nothing to do with the episode.