WHERE THE STEWARDS SLIP.

NZ Truth, Issue 725, 10 May 1919, Page 7

WHERE THE STEWARDS SLIP.

And r^pugn-house. Reigns. It appears, somewhat incredible that racecourse stewards will not deal with the careless, incompetent, .or Vicious rider who persists m cutting his mount across-the field. The biggest dunce at the game Is aware that, such crossing is likely to be responsible for an accident that may result ;in the killing or maiming of other rider or horse. In its mildest form of evil it is sure to interfere with the winning chances of other horses m the race. It can be accepted, that m nearly every case where a horse is suddenly dashed from an outside to an inside •position, it is at the direction of Its rider. Further, that the rider takes this risk with the sole idea of enhancing his winning chance, careless of the harm he may do to ' other competitora. So common has this dangerous practice become that it appears to be part and polioy of the performance of nearly every rider who has a mount on a trier. The rider knows full well that he Is doing wrong, but keeps on doing it; and even a fatality resulting from it only serves to quieten it down for a, fleeting period, ■ only to be continued' m full force when the stereotyped coronial verdict of accidental ' death has been recorded. In a degree the riders are not to blame for this taking of chances, for if it were not general those who did risk it would command the best of mounts; at least, of those at the disposal of owners who punt heavily on their horses. The blame for the prevalence of this most undesirable practice He 3 directly at the door of the stewards, who tacitly encourage it. Even when ,ran expert. rider is caught red-handed 4n offending, as indicated, the stewards repeatedly dismiss the offender "with a caution or censure. Caution ■what for? Are the stewards simple enough to believe that there is a single licensed jockey who does o^ot knbw that this form of foul riding-is wrong and dangerous? Censmv so that, the offender may contir>\^' the' nefarious practices until som'^/lipri or horse is crippled. Thjs is orit respectin which our stewards signally fail to {do the right thing. If a rider is m Icompetent, careless, or vicious enough to rough-house ride, he should be set down irrespective of any other consideration. "I couldn't help it" excuses should cut no ice, and the offender be relegated to the training track until he learned how to help it, Iwhile expert riders should be shown no quarter. . /