HONOUR IN RACING

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 December 1929, Page 8

HONOUR IN RACING

BRISBANE INQUIRY. BRISBANE, November 21. At the racing inquiry, M. J. McCarthy known as “Harvester” of the “Courier” said he was appointed the paper’s sporting writer in 1915, and one of his first instructions was that he should attack proprietary racing. Witness said he did not think there was too much registered racing. Last year 747 horses raced in Brisbane, and : 351 did not win any prize money. Not until a fair percentage of these were given the opportunity of winning prize money would he consider there was sufficient racing. Questioned concerning the credibility of jockeys generally, witness said he thought everyone in the racing game lied, whether they were owners, trainers, or jockeys. . The Chairman: I am beginning to think so too. (Laughter). James L. Collins, sporting writer of the “Standard” since 1913, said that there was a tirqe when the decisions of the stewards at Kedron Park became a farce on account of the actions of the Appeal Board. In seven oi- eight cases, all close together, disqualifications and suspensions by the stewards 'were brushed aside by the board. Jockeys used to say to the stewards when they imposed a penalty: “You wait until Friday and we will get it back.” The stewards lost in so • many eases that they became discouraged, and eventually they tried to adopt a system based;on the principle that prevention was better than cure. They often called boys back from the barrier and cautioned them. If the boys gave the stewards their word of honour that they would try to win they accepted it. In some cases the stewards knew .the owners had told the boys not to win, and sometimes when cautioned they asked to be taken off the horse and another rider substituted.