APPEALS UPHELD

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 226, 20 June 1936, Page 15

APPEALS UPHELD

The Pukeko Case

“JOCKEY MAY HAVE ERRED”

The appeals by B. Burgess, ownertrainer of the horse Pukeko, and A. Jenkins, jockey, against the decision of the Auckland District Committee in dismissing their appeals against, and endorsing .the decision of the judicial'committee of the Auckland Racing Club in disqualifying • them for a period of six months from May 30, 1936, for a breach of rule 282 of the Rules of Racing in connection with the running of the horse Pukeko in the first division of the J.ervois Handicap, were heard in Wellington yesterday. The judges were Messrs. J. S. McLeod, D. E. Wanklyri, and James McLeod, and they upheld the appeals in the following judgment:—

“The judges have very carefully considered the evidence taken before the judicial committee of the Auckland Rac-, ing Club, and before the Auckland District Committee, and also the evidence tendered before them bn the appeal. “The judges consider that after giving due weight to the expert opinion of . Mr. Gomer, the stipendiary steward, and the stewards of the Auckland Racing Club, there is suilicient evidence from the surrounding circumstances to justify the conclusion that while the jockey, Jenkins, may have erred in his judgment in riding the race, the horse cannot be said not to have been ridden on its merits in the circumstances of the race. > . “We therefore uphold the appeals of Burgess and Jenkins, and order the deposits on appeal to be refunded.” Atkins Resumes. The three months’ suspension on P. Atkins, imposed at the autumn meeting of the Wellington Racing Club, expired this Week, and he will resume the saddle at Napier Park to-day, where he in riding Slippery, Hunting Star, Granville and Count Siegfried. Atkins has been riding work consistently at Hastings during the term, and is in good form.

Golden Wings in Sydney. Sydney reports show that Golden Wings has not improved in his behaviour at the barrier. Tn his recent start at Ascot, although hurdled off from the field on the oi J de, he delayed the start for a quarter oi an hour. He was given every consideration, and eventually got off on terms, but. he was the cause of two others getting left, ns they, were not ready when the tapes lifted. Golden Wings was favourite at a short price, but when he began to show up like that at the start the bookmakers freely extended their odds. As one writer remarked: “Backing Golden Wings is like backing a double, the first leg being whether he will get away at the start.” In the race Golden Wings ran much below expectations.

Sir Ronald. Sir Ronald was omitted from the published list of nominations for the Oringi Hack Hurdles at the Dannevirke Hunt Club’s meeting.