OUTSPOKEN JOCKEY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 260, 2 November 1935, Page 5 (Supplement)

OUTSPOKEN JOCKEY.

English Rider Who Defied the Race Stewards; An appeal for the revision of the present system of punishment adopted by the English Jockey Club is made by a well-known racing writer in a book. Mr. J. Fairfax-Blakeborough, the. author of -"Paddock Personalities," explains that no one who comes under the ban of the all-powerful racing authority is told the 'length of his sentence. It may be a year, it may be three, or it may even he suspension for life. "Those who have incurred displeasure," Mr. Fairfax-Blakeborough writes, "do not know whether to go on hoping oy whether to endeavour to take upsome other walk in life—not an easy matter for those who have never known anything but horses and racing." Among the author's stories of jockeys is one of "Speedy" Payne, a rider of the old school who was once called before some very distinguished stewards to expain his riding. "Speedy," who, was as honest as the day,, felt hurt at having been brought up on three or four successive Occasions. He addressed the .stewards? thus: "My lords, dukes, admirals and gentlemen, if j rides and loses, they.says I pulls; if I rides and wins, they says I bumps, bores, or rides foul! I've got some money in the bank,, a good wife at home, and it's like this —I doesn't care a damn what you does with me." • "Speedy," adds Mr. Fairfax-Blake-, borough left : the stewards' room without a reprimand of a stain .on his character. Jockeys have many difficulties during their "wasting" periods. The . late Jim Fagan, ; when a jockey, onee put on a pound at York, after eating a small pear to quench his, thirst; and another famous jockey who had been "wasting" hai'd to do his minimum weight, felt v weak after weighing out, had a coffee and liqueur brandy, and returned to scale 51b over-weight. According' to Mr. Fairfax-Blake-borough, the tales of jockeys' presents are often exaggerated, although it. is true that, after winning classic races, some jockeys have received cheques for as much as' £1000, and a few even more. Mr. Fairfax-Blakeborough writes, "it .is not unusual for a jockey to be told that the owner of a fancied animal is putting 'him a 'pony' on-with the stable commission at starting price, while many small owners give apprentices £5 and a fully licensed jockey £20, in addition to their fee, for riding win? ners in little races. "In a considerable number of eases, however, jockeys receive nothing beyond their fees; indeed, I could mention sever*.' instances in which they have not even had. an expression of thanks when they have been successful. "Another jockey, now a trainer, told me of an owner for whom he rode a bad jumper giving him a packet of cigarettes to commemorate his success and mark his gratitude. The horse felland broke his jockey's nose, but knowing the animal had been backed, the injured rider remounted and won." ... ..