JOCKEY WHO RODE A "ROGUE"

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 55, 6 March 1937, Page 26

JOCKEY WHO RODE A "ROGUE"

What he referred to as "a slur on my character" 'was mentioned by Michael Beary, the jockey, at the London Bankruptcy Court, when he underwent public examination

An amended statement of affairs put in by Beary showed gross liabilities of £7056, of which £5923 were expected to rank. The assets were £214, absorbed in, the preferential claims." The deficiency was £5923. '

Replying to Mr. Bruce Park, the Official Receiver, Beary said that one of the reasons for his present difficulty was trouble with the income-tax authorities.

The Official Receiver: lam going to suggest that another reason having regard to your financial position is your, extravagance?—l do not think so.

Beary agreed that his earnings in the last three years were £800 in 1934, £1500 in 1935, and £2215 in 1936. For a losing mount his fee was £3, and for a winner £5.

The Official Receiver: These figures would not include presents one hears of from grateful owners?

Beary replied: "I hear about them but seldom do they materialise."

Explaining his personal expenses, which, he said, were incurred in regaining his position as a -first-class jockey, he stated: "At the end of the 1933 season the Aga Khan told me he was not for economic reasons retaining a jockey in 1934, and asked me to ride for him whenever my retainers allowed me to do so. ' It was late in the season to fix up other retainers. Later I arranged with the Aga Khan that, as he had such prospects of winning classics in 1934, I would not take a mount in races in 1934 in which he had entries, without an agreement with his trainer.

"I received no communications from his trainer and refused other rides in

races in which the Aga Khan had an entry. I went to the Lincoln Meeting and the first thing 1 notpd was that the Aga Khan's colours were handed out to other jockeys I was left there flat, without a ride..

"It caused a slur on my character. There was the fact that people did not know what had happened."

Questioned further about his personal expenses, Mr. Beary maintained that anything he had spent was in working to get back his position. Though he had not had new clothes for two years he agreed that his statement of accounts showed bills of £128, £32, and £98. He explained that the replacement of worn-out riding tackle was included in that.

There was a bill for £101 for food and rooms at Grosvenor.House.

The Official Receiver: Had you been giving nice dinner parties?—No, I was staying there purely because there were means of keeping fit—a gymnasium and swimming bath.

Mr. Registrar Kean: There is an item of £134 for Turkish baths. That I suppose, is rather a necessity?— Yes, to keep fit.

In reply to his counsel, Mr. E. Ryder Richardson, Mr. Beary said that before 1933 he was one of the most important jockeys in England. To get back that position it was an asset to stay- at a. first-class hotel. The Aga Khan had recognised his endeavour by asking him to ride a horse for him since.

Mr. Richardson: Did that horse— Sindhi—turn out to be a rogue?— Yes. He did everything but race when the gate went up. He tried to get over the rails, and did not finish in the first three.

Did you find out later that it was common knowledge that the horse was a rogue?— Everyone in England knew that, after the race.