MISUSE OF WHIP.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19462, 8 November 1928, Page 17

MISUSE OF WHIP.

REINSMAN DISQUALIFIED. "MOST DISGRACEFUL PRACTICE*' When the Board of the New Zealand Trotting Association had before it last evening a letter from the Greymouth Trotting Club enclosing a report of the proceedings at a meeting of its Judicial Committee held to enquire into an accusation against a driver in the Aviation Handicap at its recent Meeting of striking another reinsman with bis whip, .members took a serious view of the alleged offence and increased the penalty from one month's suspension to three months' disqualification. After the Aviation Handicap on the first day of the Meeting, the club reported, Albert Smith, owner and driver of June De Oro, complained that coming round the bend out of the back straight, Lester Davidson, driver oi Dillon's Pride, commenced using nis whip on him, hitting complainant three or four times on the left arm. Davidson came in with a broken whip, hav ing hit complainant with it hard enough to break it. Smith had denied that he had driven his sulky wheel underneath Davidson's horse or that Holmes, who was outside, ran him in, but he could not say that the whip had been broken on him. The marks wi.icli he showed the enmmittee were produced by the whip. Free Holmes stated that when he was driving behind the two of them, they were close together He saw Davidson hit Smith on the back with his whip. The latter had not interfered with Davidson. He had not seen Smith's wheel under the shafts. Mr E Warnes (patrol steward) said he did not see Smith hit by Davidson. The latter, m evidence, said Smith's wheel was under his horse's feet, and Smith was jamming him against the rails. Smith kept forging in. in spite of witness calling to him to keep out Witness tried to hammer his horse further on, but Smith's wheel or shaft of his sulky were underneath his. "Hit the Shaft." • Witnesss could not clear himself, so started to hit Smith's shaft with his whip to try and keep him out. Smithcomplained that the horses on the outside of him were running him in. When witness used his whip on his horse and also on Smith's shaft. Smith eased out His whip was as good when he came in as when he went out. To Mr F. J. BeeT (stipendiary steward), Davidson had said his life was in his hands. He must have struck Smith when he was hammering his horse to keep him going, as he was tangling a great deal through Smith's wheel touching his feet.' On the motion of Messrs D. H. Roberts and J. W Hannan, Davidson was suspended for a month from riding and driving. The chairman (Mr J. H. Williams) said it was a serious case. The charge against Davidson was one of deliberately striking another driver with a whip. It was a most disgraceful practice. Mr Hay ward: In addition to that his evidence is all wrong. He said he was flogging his horse to get on. He Could not have been when there was a horse which was done in' front of him in such a position. Mr 3. R McKenzie: In the position in which he says the horses were, he could only hit the man. •Mt J. B. Thomson: His evidence is quite •unsatisfactory. Nothing would, he eained by striking the shaft. The' chairman moved that the action of the club in finding Davidson guilty be confirmed, and that the suspension be altered to disqualification to be increased to three months, dating from October 20th to January SOtih. Mr W. Bayward: ,J, wish you would majar.it six months, r A "memoer: We can't be too severe at this time of the year, Mr <S. McMillan suggested that the disqualification be from the date of the offence, and the -motion was carried with this provision.

STATESMAN'S WIN.

STAMPED AS A STAYER.

.(OWITED F&ESB ASSOfIATIOH—BI ELBCTBIO TBLBOSAPH—COPTBIOHT.) SYDNEY, November 7. , T3k Gerald's" description of the: Melbourne Cup says:—Statesman's victory was assured two furlongs from home, where he took complete control from the Victorian Derby winner, igain- * ing [ the verdict by four lengths, with three lengths from Strephon to Deniost. "The cheers were deafening when j Statesman headed Strephon and it' 1 looked all over. i "In the early part of the race," Statesman had a Tear position, and had. to make up a lot of leeway. The, crowd doubted the ability of the ihoTse; to do it, but the fact that he won so handsomely stamps him .as a stayer en- , titled to rank with the best which have won this historic event. "Statesman is a rich chestnut horse bred by bis owner-trainer, W. Kelso,' but he has not a particularly impressive record, three wins, two seconds, and two thirds, his winnings being £12,237. He has not been over-raced, and'evidently stood the Cup preparation satisfactorily. J. Mnnro, the' jockey, has thus added another big win to his illustrious spring A.J.C. record ■ The same jockey rode Windbag in his Cup victory. Balmerino showed signs of congestion •of the lungs after the race. success took £250,000 from the ring. It goes all over Australia. Kelso had not had the pleasure of seeing his colours to the fore in the * Melbourne Cup before. He is very cordially congratulated by Sydney 1 friends. "Demost ran a good race. He was always third or fourth, hut was very distressed at the finish. Winalot did only fairly. Epilogue had a handy position, but faded away. Maple was a disappointment. Oatendale ran a similar race to his Derby effort. He was in a forward position early, but also "'faded, and finished about seventh. Textile', among others, was scratched on the course. The Banker finished lost. Canning Queen and Dion were other prominent entries, but were not quite good enough"The attendance was 105,000, but 50,000 saw the big race from surrounding points of vantage outside the course. The heat and congestion were almost unbearable." The "Daily Telegraph" says:— pulled up as fresh as when the race began Strephon showed the effects of his hard race and extra weisrht. There was nothing remarkable in the time, the first mile occupying 1.43}. which suited Statesman to a nicety-"—Australian Press Association.