RACING NOTES

Grey River Argus, 4 July 1911, Page 1

RACING NOTES

The Te Kuiti Racing Club held a special general "meeting on Wednesday night, in consequence of the granf of- a totalisator : peoTzmit. It was decided to make immediate arrangements for a loan, not to exceed '-^SOO, for the purchase of a couirse, to ber ready for the next race meeting. '

A' question of/ thje' utmdst importance to jockeys-- (says a Melbourne writer) is expected- -to- come before the V.R.C. Committee for decision, Because the ruling" of that' 'body will determine whether a - rider has the_ •right,- under conditions which he may regard as dangerous* to break an engagement; It seemisAuhuß mfwyp engagement. A noted rider has been reported to the V.RvC. for alleged breach of: agreement. It seems that he engaged for a steeplechase a£ a country meting, but, considering the ground unsafe owing to ' the rain, he. would hot ride.' The owner considers the engagement should have been met so long as; the local stewards thought -the going- safe, enough^ for racing, and he intends, it is said, •to have the matter ventilated at headquarters. It is a point that is worth deciding. y rather unusual case recently occupied the attention of th ecommittee of the Victoria Racing Club. In Australia the rule • relating to jockeys betting is similar to that in vogue in New Zealand. It is therein laid down that no rider may take a wager, excepting in respect of his own mount, a hd then only through or with the permission of the horses owner. At the committee meeting in question a complaint, was lodged by an owner to the effect that he had invested £22 on behalf of his jockey, who had failed to settle. The pockey denied haying authorised his employer to make a wager_ on his account, an das it was merely a case of the complainant's word against that of the. defendant, the committee decided to take no action.

An interesting anecdote, in connectidn with the late -Mr. Eli Jellett is being revived. Hales in the Austrabeing revived. - Hajos had the mount .on Richmond.. in- IlieV Australian Cup, arid •M-r.-JeUett we'i^Ted- liirii out ratheor fine. Joe , Thompson, the Leviathan bookmaker, was' aware of th:s, and, being one. of Richmond's backers, slipped several half-crowns in to Hale's boots, to be sure of a correct weigh-in. After the race Hales got a great surprise to find nearly a pound's worth of half-crowns in his boots, and until matters were afterwards 'explained was in a quandary to account fpr the find. .