OBLIGATION OF JOCKEYS

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 85, 10 April 1935, Page 8

OBLIGATION OF JOCKEYS

The Victorian stipendiary stewards Lave been subjected to criticism in some quarters for having suspended D. Munro, who rode Araclme in the Newmarket Handicap recently. Anybody fully acquainted with the facts of the ease will agree that the stewards did not exceed their powers, says the Melbourne writer "Chiron," and that the punishment they imposed w,-.s merited. Before the horses went to the, post for the Newmarket Handicap all th 6 jockeys were addressed by the chairman of the . stipendiary stewards, aud_ informed that [ the committee of the. Victoria Earing . Club had decided that in all races up the i straight riders would be expected to keep i a straight course, and that the practice o£ , the riders of .horses- drawn near the centre [ of the course edging over toward either . the inner or the outer rail would not be '■ tolerated. Every horse would be expected . to pursue a, straight course from start to [ finish; .As Arachne was to have started several horses out from the outside rail, • Mmu'o was specifically warned that he must not cross over to the rail when Arachne took the lead, as she was expected '. to do. lii spite of the warning Mtmro allowed Arachne to cross to the rail, and, '■ therefore,' disobeyed an instruction by the stewards. The Australian rule that permits a horfe to eross1 another, in a race, providing it is two lengths in front when it crosses, is identical with the English rule* It ia obvious, however, that the rule is intended to apply only to races run on circular courses, because in Englind, although there is no specific rule on the subject, it is strongly insisted that in all races on straight courses riders must not deviate from the straight line.; Some years ago there was an accident in the Stewards' Cup, run over the straight course at .Goodwood. The 'stewards held an inquiry, and decided that the accident was caused mainly by the crowding of the jockeys drawn on the stand side of the course towards the far rails. "This practice,' they added, "which had become increasingly prevalent at. Goodwood, wa» a dangerous one, and must be stopped in. the interest of safety and of fair racing.'' They warned jockeys that they would deal severely with anyone who disregarded the instruction. *.