DEATH OF A JOCKEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19292, 3 April 1926, Page 12

DEATH OF A JOCKEY.

CONTINUATION OF INQUEST.

SLOPE OF THE HURDLES. COMPLAINTS BY THE RIDERS. The inquest concerning the death of Edward Preston, a jockey, who died on February 2, as a result of a fall in (tie Tnkapuna Ifurdles at the Takapuna Jockey Club's meeting on January 30 was continued before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., on Thursday. Sergeant Rowell appeared for the police, Mr. 11. P. Towle for the relatives of the deceased, and Mr. Alderton for the Takapuna Jockey Club. Will iarn Spence, secretary of the Auckland District Racing Committee, gave evidence that the committee had recently held an inquiry into the safety or otherwise of the Takapuna racecourse. The committee decided that no hurdle races should be run on the course in future and that no flat races should be run until alterations had been made to the turns. The stipendiary steward made a report on the meeting in November and the committee decided to hold an inquiry. Preston died before the inquiry was finished. The Racing Conference had recommended that hurdles should lean in the direction in which horses wero running.

Frederick Edward Webster, houso surgeon at the Auckland Hospital, said Preston was admitted to tho hospital on January 30. On February 2 septic complications set in and Preston died the samo evening from asphyxia, the direct result of his injuries. No Complaints on First Day.

Robert Wvnyard, secretary of the Takapuna Jockey Club, said that Preston was riding Daddy's Girl in the Takapuna Hurdles, Three horses fell at the first hurdle, Daddy's Girl being one, and Preston was injured. The judicial committee met after the race and held an inquiry into the circumstances. The recommendations subsequently made by the District Committee for tlie improvement of the course were now being carried out. On January 30 the hurdles were leaning in accordance with the regulations of the Racing • Conference. Tlie Thames Jockey Club held a two-day meeting on the Takapuna course about two weeks before January 30. Witness believed there were some falls in hurdle races at that meeting. He received no complaints from riders on the first day of the Takapuna Club's meeting, and did not hear of any. The* hurdles were padded at the top but not at tho bottom.

William Alexander Rennie, jockey, said he rode Kawini in the Takapuna Hurdles. Approaching the first hurdle he was with the leaders, and iust behind Daddy's Girl. The latter horse did not seem to attempt to rise at the hurdle, but went straight through it. It seemed as if she were being ridden too hard to rise. His own horse landed on Daddy's Girl and fell. Thero was a slope of about 2in. on the hurdles, but the padding neutralised this. He rode in the November meeting at Takapuna and the hurdles then were according to standard. At tho January meeting they were not. Jockeys' Complaint.

On the first day of the January meeting witness and oilier jockeys complained to the stipendiary steward that the hurdles were too vertical. The steward said lie would see about it, but nothing was done. All the. jockeys who rode in the hurdle races complained about tlie hurdles on both days. Seven horses in all fell in the Takapuna Hurdles. Some of them were good jumpers. At the November meeting the hurdles were supported by stakes, but in January by triangles. Standard hurdles had a cant of about 3in. or 4in. Thomas William H. J. Rowe, jockey, said he rode next to Daddy's Girl in the Takapuna Hurdles. They were on the outside of the field. Daddy s Girl ran straight through the first hurdle without rising. He could corroborate the evidence of the previous witness regarding the slope of the hurdles, but he did not complain, as he was a new rider. Jockeys had no reason to hesitate about making complaints. . , At this stage the inquiry was adjourned to Tu'esrtay, April 13, "to enable the stipendiary steward to be called.