RIDER IN TROUBLE

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22271, 9 December 1937, Page 14

RIDER IN TROUBLE

M’CARTEN'S SUSPENSION

M. McCarten, regarded as one of the fairest jockeys in Australia, is not likely to- forget the spring of 1937, ■writes a Sydney / correspondent. A month's suspension received when riding Talking in. the Caulfield Cup cost him at least six winning rides at the Melbourne Cup meeting. He had been back in the saddle for two racing clays when he was awarded a further two months. Thus by the Victorian and New South Wales stewards he has been stood down for three months out of three months and 10 days. McCarten’s Sydney suspension came as a bombshell, for it resulted from a fall at Victoria Park last week, when E. McMenamin, the leading rider, finished up over the rails in the centre of the course. The action of the Australian Jockey Club stewards has aroused considerable comment, for McCarten was ii\ front and McMenamin was trying to push up on the inside well in the rear of McCarten,

The stewards in their finding stated that McCarten . went for , ah .opening that presented itself and sb brought down McMenamin’s mount. From this finding jockeys can assume that they are not to avail themselves of openings which present winning opportunities.

The engagements of the present set of stewards have been terminated and applications closed for the positions a fortnight ago. The new appointees ■will ’ take office on February 1. Strangely enough, for interference to another horse ridden by McMenamin at Kensington last week, H. Perry was suspended also for two months.