JOCKEY'S DEATH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 39, 15 February 1934, Page 15

JOCKEY'S DEATH.

ACCIDENTAL FALL. TAKAPUNA RACECOURSE. COMMENT BY CORONER. That the Takapuna Jockey Club's racecourse is too circular, and not a good course for two-year-old horses to race upon, was the opinion expressed by Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., yesterday afternoon, when the inquest was completed into the death of George Albert Baker, aged 19, an apprentice jockey, who was fatally injured when riding the horsa [Kelly in th eCalliope Handicap on January 27.

Senior Sergeant Flanagan appeared for the police. Mr. C. McLiver appeared for the relatives of the deceased, while Mr. A. H. Johnstone, with Mr. Lisle Alderton, represented the Takapuna Jockey Club.

Henry Charles Thomas Gomer, chairman of stipendiary stewards of the New Zealand Eacing Conference, said he watched the race for the Calliope Handicap, in which five horses started. High Crest was slow away. After the field had gone a furlong High Crest ran up to Kelly and passed him. Kelly was on the rails, with High Crest outside him. High Crest just before the accident happened was two lengths in front of Kelly. Then Kelly appeared to run up smartly to within half a length. The track was in good order. Witness saw the mix-up. The horse did not fall. He could not say for certain, but there appeared to be an opening. Witness was watching from a distance of two furlongs, and later inspected the scene of the accident. There were marks on the rails extending about 30ft or 40ft. One of the rails was split. He examined the gear and found it in good order. The girth and surcingle were broken. He considered that when the horse came into collision with the post supporting the running rail the gear broke.

Mr. Johnstone: This was Kelly's first race, and deceased was an apprentice rider?— Yes. He dislodged his rider at the barrier before the start? —Yes. Did Kelly go between High Crest and the rails?—lt appeared to me so. There was no suggestion of interference ?—Absolutely none. What is likely to happen to a horse wbich comes in too fast in a race? — It all depends on the control exercised by the jockey. The horse might roll into the rails. Did Kelly race as an experienced animal? —He appeared to me at first to be running "green." Did the jockey fall before the horse fell? —I consider the deceased fell first. A Good Rider. Mr. ..McLiyer: . You knew deceased well ? —Yes.

Was he a good and experienced rider? —Yes. I thought he would make a very good rider. Mr. Wilson: When a horse is racing it is important that he should keep his balance? —Yes. / This is a short straight at Takapuna? —Yas. Do you know any shorter?— No. When the speed is cracked 011 is more important to have balance?— Yes. Have you ever trained horses?— Yes, for myself. Trained two-year-olds ? —No. Two-vear-olds have to be taught to gallop fast on a straight course to improve their action? —Yes, but you train them to go round a turn as well. Patrol Steward's Account. Gerald Lovcl Stead, who acted as patrol steward at Takapuna and saw the race run, said he was in the middle of the track 2J furlongs from the start. Before the start Kelly got under the barrier and the rider, Baker, was pulled off by the barrier. The five horses got a reasonably good start, Kelly being slowly away. When the accident occurred Keily was last with plenty of room between himself and the rails. "I noticed that Baker left the horse before Kelly started to falter," said Mr. Stead. "I saw deceased fall off the near

side of the horse. I cannot say how the accident happened unless it was due to the swerving of the horse Kelly, which continued from the time the horse left the barrier until the accident happened." Mr. Johnstone: Do horses fall on other courses ? —Yes. Mr. Wilson: But this horse did not fall? —No, he stumbled. Mr. Johnstone: The boy left the horse's back before that? —Yes. Mr. McLiver: If the horse stumbled or crossed his legs he would fall right , over ? —Yes. If he stumbled he would'not leave a • mark about 06 feet on the rails ? —No. 1 Further questioned, Mr. Stead said i that in his opinion the whole thing was I purely accidental. ' "I was astonished to see Kelly's rider 1 turning in towards the rails," said ! Oliver James Hall, another patrol steward, who was near the scene of the ; accident. "To me it appeared that Kelly > was on the outside. I heard a shout. I don't know who it was. I then saw . a rider go up in the air and the saddle follow him. The horse fell on its haunches and then seemed to skid. It did not turn a somersault. There was no jostling in the race."

Jockey's Evidence. A jockey, Leonard Clifford, said he was riding High Crest. He had No. 1 position at the barrier, and Kelly was unruly at the barrier, but the jockey kept his seat. Kelly "ran about a bit" for the first furlong but he was all right after that. Just before the accident Kelly tried to come up on the inside. Senior Sergeant Flanagan: Did you attempt to let him through?— No. I never had time. There was 3ft between my horso and the rails. Kelly was half 'a length away from my horse.

Frederick Gilchrist, horse trainer, of Ellerslie, said he trained Kelly, a two-year-old. The horse had been under witness' supervision since April 1. The Calliope Handicap was its first race. Witness knew deceased well and looked on him as a capable jockey. Witness saddled Kelly before the horse went out for the race. The gear was in perfect order. Senior Sergeant Flanagan: How do you account for the accident? —Pressure from the outside horses. Mr. Johnstone: I put it to you that Kelly did substantially the whole of his galloping on a right-hand track? —Yee, but he went both ways. He would be "at sea" when he went to a left-hand track?—He would if he was not used to it. Was he 6ore before the race? —No. What did he have bandages on for, then?— For protection. Horse's Condition. Joseph Lyons, veterinary surgeon, said he examined the horse after the race. It had a cut on the upper left part of the forearm. There was hair off his side and particularly the hips. Such injuries could be caused by contact with the rail. Mr. McLiver: The injuries were consistent with the horse being forced along the rails?— Yes. Coroner's Verdict. In giving his verdict Mr. Wyvern Wilson said he had directed that additional evidence should be called. "It seemed to me that the first investigation was not sufficient to enable me to determine how this jockey was killed," he said. "It i J essential, where such an accident occurs, in the iuterests of the public, the jockeys | themselves, and the clubs that no blame should lie on those who av© blameless. There 19 no doubt how this unfortunate boy lost his life. His horse came in contact with the fence —the rails. He was riding a two-year-old inexperienced horse. Looking at the plan in the light of evidence given, it does not seem to be a good course for racing two-year-olds. It is the natural gait of a two-year-old to ■ gallop straight forward and not gallop in a circle. The Takapuna is too [ circular for a horse to maintain its 1 balance and keep up a high speed. "It is remarkable the contradiction in . the testimony. Mr. Gomer differs with I Mr. Stead and I find it hard to give [ credence to Mr. Stead's evidence, as he , says there was room for four horses at ; the time of the accident. The whole facts lead me to believe Kelly lost his balance ' and rolled in against the rails while still „ turning. The rider was skilful, the horse , was well trained and disciplined. It is l not a good course for two-year-olds. I formally find that death was the result 3 of an accidental fall from the racehorse Kelly."