JOCKEY'S DEATH

Evening Star, Issue 21037, 26 February 1932, Page 12

JOCKEY'S DEATH

ALLEGATIONS OF FOUL RIDING [Pbb United Pkbss Association.] AUCKLAND, February 26. The inquest opened before Mr Cutten, S.M., concerning the death of H. E. Stockley, aged 17, the apprentice jockey whose mount, Exaggeration, fell m the first race at Ellerslie on December 29. Stockley died on the way to the hospital. A 6ft model of the course was on the solicitors’ table, as well as a dozen brightly-coloured lead horses. A request by counsel for Stockley’s relatives that witnesses leave the court was opposed by the Racing Club’s counsel, who said that if allegations were to be made against any of the jockeys they should hear them. The request was declined.

Owen MTnally, rider of Bronze Tray, said that the leading horses, Beacon Fire, Exaggeration, Nea Lap, with Exaggeration in the middle, were so close together that a sheet of paper could not have been placed between them. The cause of the accident, ho considered, was foul riding on the part of the rider of the outside horse, Gray. He heard Stockley yelling out to Reed, and Gray. He was not sure whether Stockley was calling: “ Leave me alone.” Stockley’s voice suggested that he was in fear. When Stockley yelled the outside horse did not move out. It was, witness considered, foul riding. Gray could have moved out, but not Reed, who was on the rails. The next was that Exaggeration fell. His own horse was the first to pass over the fallen horse. Witness was questioned at length regarding his account of the position _ - of the horses at the time, which description disagreed with that of others. It is understood that a great deal of evidence will be called in rebuttal of the allegations. Roy Reed, the rider of Beacon Fire, said he did not once hear Stockley call out, nor did he know that the horse on the 'other side of Stockley’s was ridden by Gray. It was possible, for the horse on the outside was forcing Stockley into witness. After the accident Gray, on Nea Lap; took the lead. Witness would be surprised to hear that Stockley told Gray to leave him alone. Leonard Morris, jockey (on Jaldy Karo) denied that there was any unfair riding. The cause of the accident, in his opinion, was that Nea Lap rolled in to Exaggeration, which seemed to get on Nea Lap’s heels. He did not remember his brother saying in the birdcage after the race that it was the hottest bit of riding he had ever seen. Thomas Green, rider of Juniper, also said there was no foul or careless riding. He denied having stated _ that Gray was responsible for the accident, but admitted that Gray- might have unduly crowded Stockley. It was the type of accident for which no one was blameworthy. Hector Gray, the rider of Nea Lap, said that just before the accident there was a bit of crowding. Ho pulled out and went straight on. Beacon Fire and Exaggeration were racing neck and neck, and witness came up on the outside. \He did not crowd in this race. He never heard Stockley call out. He had no money on tho race. He got on quite well with Stockley. [The result of the Ferguson Handicap, in which the accident happened, was: Hit the Deck 1, Beacon Fire 2, Nea Lap 3.]