"PALTRY EXCUSE"

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 53, 11 September 1928, Page 9

"PALTRY EXCUSE"

(Received lltli September, 10.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Mr. C. Graves, a prominent sporting writer, commenting on M'Carten's disqualification, declares: "M'Carten's excuse that

Limerick lugged in is paltry. The general | impression of those who saw Saturday's incident in the Chelm6ford Stakes is that, if Limerick lugged in, M'Carten allowed him to do so without restraint, with the object of preventing Winalot from getting a fair run." Even without interference Limerick would, in Mr. Graves's opinion, have won. Private advice received in Wellington from Australia concerning M'Carten's_ suspension suggests that much rough riding took place at Randwick last Saturday, and that the sentence will have a salutory effect. While M'Carten is held responsible for the trouble, the riders of Rionscup and Winalot are not looked on as entirely free from blame. Raasay suffered severely as a result of a melee in which Limerick, Winalot, find Rionscup took part, but it is claimed that Raasay was beaten at the time of the occurrence. On many occasions (particularly in classical and wcight-for-ago contests) one has witnessed cases of jostling for positions, which have been allowed, to pass unnoticed by .the authorities. Saturday's case was an exception, and once again M'Carten is the scapegoat. When riding in New Zealand, M. M'Carten, rarely, if ever, caused the displeasure of racing'officials,' and was looked on by the vast majority of racegoers us a partilarly honest rider and one who would uot purposely interfere with a fellow-jockey during the running of a race. Of course, there are times when a rider (particularly if ho is on a champion) is called on to show nerve in going through an opening. To miss such a chance means defeat, and incidentally all-round condemnation from backers who in most cases claim that the unfortunate rider made no attempt to go through the space offering. Evidently M'Carten took the risk, and in doing so, caused interference for which he is to pay a severe penalty.