WORLD’S WORST LUCK

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 148, 19 March 1937, Page III (Supplement)

WORLD’S WORST LUCK

Bankrupt Jockey’s

Statement

THE AGA KHAN’S COLOURS

“I have had tile worst luck in the world,“ Michael Beary told a. London “Daily Mail” reporter recently, after appearing for public examination at the London Bankruptcy Court.

"Ever since 193! I have bet-n working to get buck to my former position —in the leading rank of jockeys. "Now I am married and am much happier. People wonder why I stay at. luxury hotels when I am hard up. but I have found it good policy to do so. There 1 meet the people who matter in racing.''

At the pnblie examination, held before Mr. Registrar Kean, Mr. Beary’s amended statement of affairs showed gross liabilities of £7056/7/11 (£5923 9/7 expected to rank) and assets ot £214/18/4, absorbed in preferential claims, with a deficiency of £5923/9/7.

Mr. Beary said that the reasons for his difficulty were trouble with the income tax authorities, heavy expenses in endeavouring to regain his position as a leading jockey, and £5OO loss on sales of yearlings.

Mr. Beary agreed that his earnings in the last three years were £SOO in 1934, £l5OO in 1935, and £2215 in 1936. For a losing mount, he said, his fee was £3 and for a winner £5. The Official Receiver; These figures would not include the presents one hears of, given by grateful owners? “[ hear about them but seldom do they materialise,” said Mr. Beary.

He explained that his racing and travelling expenses totalled £2065 and his personal expenses £3OOO. “At the end of the 1933 season,” he continued, “the Aga Kiian told me he was not retaining a. jockey in 1934. “Later I arranged witii him that, as be bad such prospects of winning classics in 1934, I would not take a mount in races in which he had entries for that year without an agreement with Ills trainer.

“I received no communications from his trainer and refused other rides in races in which the Aga Khan had an entry. Then I went to the Lincoln meeting, and the first thing I noted was that the Aga Khan’s colours were handed out to other jockeys. I was left there flat, without a ride, and it caused a slur on my character. People did not know what had happened.”