THE STAKE'S SUCCESS.

NZ Truth, Issue 120, 5 October 1907, Page 2

THE STAKE'S SUCCESS.

Jenkins* Judges*^ "Not Guilty." 'At the recent Rangitikei meeting, m the opening event, there were four runners, viz., St. Claimer, Mahuta, The Stake and Linkless. Coyle s horse was backed for a large sum m Wellington, and a lot of comment was caused at the absence of any money for the other horses m the race. ! The Stake won easily, but the way was paved for him by Mahuta dwelling at the post and then galloping off the track (which is not fenced) and by what seemed undue attention on the part of Jen-

kins, the rider of St. Claimer, to Price, the rider of Linklcss. The owner of the last-named marc immediately lodged a complaint against Jenkins, and the stewards met, and, aftc several adjournments, finally decided last Saturday night that Jenkins was blameless and that his explanation (that he had broken his stirrup leather) be accepted as the cause of the trouble. The stewards heard a lot of evidence, and had a lot of wires sent them from the Wellington bookmakers, but the latter were not taken cognisance of, as the senders did not sign their names. This matter was not dealt with by me last week as it was still sub judice, and it would have been grossly unfair to Jenkins to comment upon it, and perhaps prejudice him m the eyes of the stewards, who were dealing with his case. Since then I have seen The Stake perform again, and I want to say right here that m my opinion at the weights the best horse won at Rangitikei. It is hardly fair to blame the horse's connections if there arc not many triers behind him. It seems beyond doubt that Mahuta and St. Claimer were non-triers, and the stewards might well have ' questioned their owners, but as they failed to do this, the matter must end there. Jenkins and Oliver were the riders of these horses, and "if they are foolish enough to take war risks, it is only a matter of time when retribution ■will folldWi but after all, are we to blame the' boys orilyv-or should an explanation not be required from the owners of the horses, Messrs Hikaka and McManaway ? No one will argue that the" jockeys' had hold of the horses on their own account, and- if j they did, why was no complaint made to the stewards by the owners ?