Bob Skelton out for nine months

Press, 3 June 1982, Page 24

Bob Skelton out for nine months

NZPA Melbourne The former champion New Zealand jockey, Bob Skelton, was yesterday disqualified for nine months on two charges in relation to the running of the Ararat Cup last November 27. The Victoria Racing Club committee found Skelton guilty of dishonest, corrupt, fraudulent and improper practice, and of having received a sum of money from a fellow jockey, Rod Dawkins, to give his mount, Gary Bruce, an unfair advantage during the race. Dawkins, who won the race on Gary Bruce, was diisqualified for three years after being found guilty on three charges — that he was a party to procuring riders to act in breach of the Rules of Racing in the Ararat Cup; that he was guilty of dishonest, corrupt, fraudulent and improper practices, and that he had corruptly offered and given money to Skelton and another jockey, Stephen Ridler. Skelton, whose mount, A Secret Show, was unplaced in the cup, was cleared of two other charges, and a fifth, of giving misleading evidence, was withdrawn. The committee said it was satisfied that Skelton, eight times New Zealand champion, had accepted $5OO from Dawkins after the race. The committee dismissed all charges faced by a former New Zealander, Wayne Walters, trainer of Gary Bruce; the owners, Alan Jorgensen and Barry Long; a bookmaker, Brian Mann, and the jockeys, Dale Broadfoot and Gerald Ryan. Two of the charges against Ridler were dismissed and the committee adjourned the third. The committee said that it was satisfied that Skelton told them:

1. That he accepted an offer of money from Rodney Dawkins to give Gary Bruce an unfair advantage during the running of the race. 2. That he agreed with Dawkins to give Gary Bruce an unfair advantage during the running of the race.

The committee said it was

satisifed that Dawkins has asked Skelton not to allow A Secret Show to run on its merits. The committee also found that Dawkins had asked Ridler not to allow the horse, Glenigis, to run on its merits. It said it was satisfied Dawkins offered and gave Skelton $5OO and offered a similar amount to Ridler. During an adjournment in the inquiry yesterday Dawkins made the following statement: “I am not guilty of any of the charges that the committee has found proved against me. “Bob Skelton and I have been victimised. “You have not heard the last of the Ararat Cup.” Before the committee announced its penalties on the two jockeys, counsel for Dawkins, Dr Cliff Pannam, said the finding against, his client and Skelton was an “extraordinary, curious result.” He said the finding indicatd jockeys were their own masters and acted without instructions from owners or trainers.

Walters was not present to hear the verdict but all those who had their charges dismissed expressed great relief.

Jorgensen, the owner of Cup runner, Al’s Gamble, a stablemate of Gary Bruce, said the decision was the only one that could be arrived at.

“I would have thought any other decision unjust,” he added. He said the incident had not soured his attitude to racing “but I may be more cautious in future.” A bookmaker, Brian Mann, said he was tremendously relieved.