Compton and E. Smith out for six months

Press, 16 June 1983, Page 22

Compton and E. Smith out for six months

NZPA Sydney Ernie Smith, stable manager of the powerful T. J. Smith training establishment, told a steward’s inquiry on Tuesday it was “outrageous” that he should be suspended for six months over the running of Estadista in the Fulmen Handicap (1900 m at Canterbury on May 10. “I can’t believe you can come to this decision,” Smith told stewards. “I don’t think that when a jockey admits he has ridden a bad race that the trainer is to be held equally responsible.”

Smith, together with New Zealand jockey, Bruce Compton, was charged after stewards concluded their inquiry into the riding and handling of Estadista.

Estadista, which eased from odds-on to start 7-4 favourite, finished a distant fourth in a field of six behind Westella Boy in a very slowly run race. Compton pleaded not guilty to the charge that, being a senior rider, he unreasonably continued to excessively restrain his mount in the early and middle stages of the race, thus failing to ensure in the circumstances of the race that his mount was given full opportunity to win or to obtain the best possible place in the field. Smith pleaded not guilty to the charge of giving instructions to Compton which in the opinion of the stewards, made him a party to Compton’s handling of the mare.

Stewards found both Smith and Compton guilty of the charges, and suspended them both for six months.

They also charged the jockey, Tony Marney, rider of third-placed First Game, that, being a senior rider and in the circumstances of the race, he adhered to tactics in the middle stages of the race past the stage where he could have improved his position and then given his mount full opportunity to win or obtain the best possible place in the field.

Marney also pleaded not guilty and was given an adjournment of his hearing to a date to be fixed to enable him to call witnesses.