THE TURF.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 15 June 1907, Page 4

THE TURF.

In the face of L. Hewitt's brilliant and successful horsemanship since his arrival in England, it is astonishing how prejudiced eriticß are against the New Zealand rider. The ignorance of some of the critics is exposed when the Sporting Times, a paper one would expect to know better, described Hewitt as a •'ranch rider from Melbourne." In another contribution the same paper remarks anent Hewitt, "though the latest recruit to the ranks of our jockeys may have been the Mailer or MeC'all of New Zealand, he am scarcely be termed an exponent of elegant horsemanship, and his curious antics iu getting Karer Sort home last Saturday evoked the sneers of at least old habitue of the weighingroom. 'Never seen a jockey in such extraordinary positions in all my life,' cried this veteran; anil Templeton, who was waiting to scale, charitably rejoined 011 behalf of the jibsent one: 'You have

not'; Well, but you should see some of them that are riding iu Holland!"' When Hewitt rode Karer Sort to victory nt Alexandra Park, the staid and always correct Sportsman referred to the nice: "Though the course is, so to say, a freak, it is all right when you know it, though 1 expect Hewitt thought to himself, 'but you've got to know it first,' while he won on Rarer Sort once more, but not until after he hud seemed almostto have lost his way, and then got a deal Hurried when Hill Climber bore down 011 him. All the same, he. won, and that is the main thing. There were many who criticised, but it is not fair to criticise any jockey riding at Alexandra Park for Ihe lirst time. It is already admitted that Hewitt sits still and gets away well, that he rides his races with judgment, and the only point in suspense is how he finishes. When he has really settled down to racing in this country wo shall be able to judge from time to time later on, but 1 have seen quite enough already to satisfy me that the New Zealand jockey can win his races when his mount is good enough, no matter who opposes him."