SUSPENDED RIDER

Press, Volume C, Issue 29467, 20 March 1961, Page 4

SUSPENDED RIDER

W. A. Smith At Trentham (N.Z Press Association) WELLINGTON. March 19. The Hamilton rider, W. A. Smith, was suspended up to and including April 1 by the judicial committee of the Wellington Racing Club on Saturday after the hearing of a charge of careless riding in the Hutt Handicap. Smith rode Gay Defoe and was charged with causing interference to Braganza between the six and five furlongs. The committee heard evidence from the stipendiary steward, a patrol steward and the jockeys. A. J. Stokes (Braganza). G. N. McLiesh (Sheonat) and N. E. Eastwood (Vitamise) and a statement from Smith. After the running of the New Zealand St. Leger Stakes the judicial committee held an inquiry into interference about a furlong from the finish by Bright Coral (C. A. Bowry). which finished third, to Dashing Star (J. P. Riordan) which ran fifth. Bowry was charged with careless riding. After hearing the evidence and viewing a film of the race the committee found that the chance of Dashing Star had been affected by the interference and relegated Bright Coral to fifth. Senor being promoted to third and Dashing Star to fourth. The evidence and the film showed that the degree of culpability as far as Bowry was concerned did not warrant suspension and the committee imposed a fine of £lO Before the payout was authorised the riders G. F. Hughes (Bargoedt and W. A Smith (Rural Loch), which were first and second, were questioned independently about their mounts shifting ground in the closing stages of the race The film showed that the horses shifted ground simultaneously and no further action was warranted. Ran Off Elusive Pimpernel (R J. Skelton), which was a clear leader, ran off the course near the mile post in the Rimu Highweight and took no further part in the race. A veterinary surgeon who examined Elusive Pimpernel after the race told the committee that the horse had an ulcer in its mouth and this could have contributed to the incident. The Otaki trainer. B. A. V. Preston, was fined £l5 for the late scratching of Woo in the Suburban Handicap, second leg of the double. Woo was shipped to Sydney on Friday. She was bracketed with Huka Falls, which ran unplaced in the race. Around the turn from the half-mile in the Champion Hack Handicap. Navarro (N. E. Eastwood), which was pulling hard, had to be checked several times to avoid the heels of runners in front of him. Just before entering the straight Navarro had to change ground to the inside to get a run.