Four men disqualified

Press, 17 February 1978, Page 10

Four men disqualified

PA Wellington. Four men were disqualified for varying periods when a New Zea. iand Racing Conference executive sub-conimittee sat in Wellington on Wednesday to consider certain matters relating to the horse, Royal Venue. Disqualified were: Brian Graham Hedley for 18 months, John Leslie Coulter for 12 months, Colin David Mumby for six months and William Ralph Bonner for three months. The sub-committee heard from the chief racecourse inspector, Mr J. M. Fleming. He alleged:— That between May 28. 1976, and January 3, 1977. Royal Venue had been leased from its owner, Mr Bonner, a Stratford farmer, was raced by Mr Coulter, then a licensed joekey. Mr Hedley, a registered owner trainer, and Mr Mumby. a mechanical fitter, lhat the only Joint interest filed with the Racing Conference was a lease from Mr Bonner to Mr Hedley and that the Interests of Messrs Coulter and Mumby in the horse were not disclosed to the con-

ference. That fro mthe beginning of March. 1977, to May 7. 1977, Mr Mumby had ceased by then to have an interest in the horse, which was raced by Messrs Coulter and Hedley, and that the horse still raced in only Mr Hedley’s

name. Mr Fleming alleged that Royal Venue should be disqualified from all th 0 races in which it had started during the two periods. because a licensed jockey had an interest in it and also because the joint Interest between the persons racing the horse had not been signed by all parties interested and had not been registered before the horse started In the races. In respect of both periods, Messrs Coulter and Hedley were charged with breaches of the rule relating to a jockey having an interest in a horse in training or entered for any race, and also with breaches of the jointinterest rules.

Mr Mumby was similarly charged but in respect of the first period only. Mr Bonner was charged only with having an interest in a horse in which a jockey also had an interest. Messrs Bonner, Hedley, and Coulter admitted the charges, but Mr Mumby denied the charges against him. Apart from the disqualifications. each was ordered to pay $2OO towards the cost of the inquiry. Royal Venue was disqualified from all races in which he had started between October 13. 1976 and May 7, 1977.

And the stakes credited to the horse from races during that time were ordered to be paid to the secretary of the Racing Conference within one month, such stakes to be held and disposed of as directed by the executive committee.

All those charged were allowed until March to dispose of their interest in Royal Venue and all other horses in which they have an interest if they so wish.