RACING SENSATION.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19508, 3 January 1929, Page 13

RACING SENSATION.

LEADING JOCKEY SUSPENDED. (from oun owl coßJtss?o»T>i*T.) SYDNEY, December 27. The Victoria Racing Club provided a first-class racing sensation when the committee decided to suspend indefinitely the license of one of Australia's leading jockeys, W. Duncan, the hero of many an important event in Sydney and Melbourne. The suspension is at the pleasure of the stewards, and virtually is a life disqualification, with the proviso that the committee may at any time review the position. However, his offence is regarded as a very serious one r and in the circumstances the decision of the committee is not surprising. There has always been a certain suspicion in the minds of the public concerning races which are the subject of a well-known Tasmanian sweep. There is a suggestion that owners and jockeys expect to be approached by those participants in the sweep who have been fortunate to draw a horse. It would seem that mor® than once owners have withdrawn m Jwrso from a particular race because fltey have not been so approached with, the offer of a of £SOO or so in the event of a win, and the supposition it that some jockeys might not try to win unless they are given an added inducement. These views are strengthened by the Duncan case, one of the first of its kind that has come to the eertain knowledge of the public. The suspension of Duncan followed a report from the stipendiary stewards relative to a sweep on the last Melbourne Cup* It was alleged that Duncan, who rode Maple to victory in the Caulfield Cup, approached two people who had drawn Maple in the Melbourne Cup and asked to be laid £7OO to nothing in case the inare won. The ticket-holder was Mr .T. W, 8. Fraser, dairy produce merchant, of Melbourne, and a half-share in the ticket was held by one of his employee#. Although the report of the stipendiary utewards, to whom the matter was first reported, has not been made public, it is understood that Fraser was unwilling to give Duncan the large amount that Duncan demanded. However, negotiations continued, and it was eventually agreed that if Maple won Duncan was to receive £SOO from the holders of the sweep ticket, an«l an agreement to that offect was drawn up. As it happened Maple failed to gain a place. The public now feels that its suspicions in regard to "tfwe«p" races were to some extent at least justified. Up to now the allegations have been- but whispered from one to the other.