INJURIES TO RACEHORSE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 14 June 1945, Page 4

INJURIES TO RACEHORSE

YOUNG STABLEHAND BEFORE COURT Auckland, June 13. As a sequel to injuries received on 30th March and 4th May by the racehorse Sir Ringman, valued at £ISOO. a stablehand was charged in the Children’s Court before Mr Luxford, S.M., on two counts of causing cruelty to the horse by stabbing it and. alternatively, with committing mischief on the horse. Mr Henry appeared for defendant, who pleaded not guilty. Outlining the case for the prosecution. Detective-Sergeant Fell said that on 30th March, when the horse was brought in, it was found to have a fairly serious wound, which fortunately did not do much harm. Defendant said the horse was wounded when he went to get it. On 4th May, when another stablehand went to groom the horse he found it had received a deep flesh wound in the chest. A knife which was used in the stable for cutting up vegetables was blunt that morning, but when it was found later in the day it had been sharpened. Defendant was questioned and eventually admitted sharpening the knife. Detective-Sergeant Fell said defendant admitted to him that he had stabbed the horse on two occasions. He said the reason for his actions was the treatment he had received from the trainer. He had expected to ride Sir Ringman at Te Rapa, but at the last moment was told he could not ride the horse. He wanted to get away from the stables on account of the treatment he had received. Defendant said he stab, bed the horse on the second occasion because it lashed out at him when he went to groom it and he lost his temper.

Evidence was given by the trainer that Sir Ringman was to have raced the day after the first stabbing in the Brighton Hurdles, for which it was the logical favourite. Witness had had no trouble with defendant till the lad’s father asked for a transfer. Sir Ringman was one of the hottest doubles ever booked in New Zealand. The owner of the horse. Dr Ring, described the horse’s wounds and said defendant told him he would like to apologise for what he had done. In evidence, Detective-Sergeant Fell said when interviewed on Bth May. defendant. broke down and said he had been driven to it. In a written statement defendant said the trainer and his wife were “biting at him like sharks.” and that he could do nothing right for them.

The hearing was adjourned till to morrow.—P.A.