AGE OF DRIVERS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20987, 14 December 1939, Page 15

AGE OF DRIVERS

TROTTING RACES DEATH IN CUP EVENT STATEMENTS AT INQUEST (By Telegraph.—Pjcss Association) CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday The death of Eugene Clement McDermott during trie running of the New Zealand Trotting Cup race at Addington on November 7 was investigated at an inquest to-day. McDermott collapsed and fell irom the sulky while driving Colonel Grattan at tne head of the field. Albert Edward Bodger, assistant starter, said fie saw McDermott lean toward tfie fence as fie approached a turn in the track, lading me field. He supposed that McDermott was doing this in preparation to go round the turn, but McDermott collapsed and fell out of the sulky. He did not at the time of nis fall have hold of the reins. No other horse or sulky struck him, nor had there been any interference. Statement for Wife Dr. A. B. Pearson, pathologist at the Christchurch Hospital, who conducted a post-mortem examination, said McDermott's death was due to heart failure from myocarditis, induced by degeneration of tfie coronary arteries ol the heart. Mr C. S. Thomas said that. Mrs McDermott, for whom he appeared, had asked him to make a statement to the Court. From tne medical evidence i 1 was apparent that McDermott was suffering from heart trouble. Mrs McDermott wanted it to be clearly understood that neither her husband nor she knew of tnis. He had been examined a week before the race. She would not like it to be thought that her husband had driven in tne race knowing the condition of his heart and risking his life and the lives of others. The coroner, Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M., said this statement would be appreciated. He asked Mr G. W. C. Smithson, who appeared for the Metropolitan Trotting Club, whether the cluo had any check on the health of drivers. He suggested that it might be wise to have a medical certificate from each driver. Driving m these races was a strenuous business. Some Last 40 Years Mr Smithson said that, although driving in trotting races was a strenuous occupation, drivers lasted a long time, many of them for 40 years! He agreed to pass on to the club the coroner's suggestion. The coroner said he had noticed that one or two of the drivers at the cup meeting were certainly not youngsters. Mr Smithson said there was one driver whose age was 68. The Coroner: The strain of driving in a race like the cup might make it just a gamble. However, lam simply offering the suggestion. Mr Thomas recalled that the famous jockey Beasley rode second in a race at the age of 83. The coroner: Well, it’s bad enough watching; I find it strenuous enough at times. The coroner then returned a verdict of death from heart failure, in accordance with the evidence of Dr. Pearson. He said he had no need to add anything to that. McDermott, who was a farmer and horse trainer as well as a driver, was 55.