A Grave Injustice Perpetrated

NZ Truth, Issue 1030, 22 August 1925, Page 10

A Grave Injustice Perpetrated

Roy Reed's Three Months' Suspension

If ever there was a grave injustice done a jockey it was at Riccarton last Saturday when Roy Reed rider of Kuhio was suspended for three months.

"Truth" holds no ibrief for Reed, but we recognise that he has been treated most unfairly. The suspension iwas imposed for alleged crossing m the final event of the day. If there was crossing only one man saw it — the official who reported the incident. Reed is said to have crossed the field early m the race, but the very runnings of the race shows that this was not possible. Reed drew' number . nine at tne barrier — the outside of the field — and he is said to have crossed the field early— within the first furlong. Yet when the field entered the home stretch Reed had his mount on the outside of the course proper. There was a horse further put, Hall Mark, but he .was coming up from behind.

If Reed had crossed over early m the race would he have then crossed back agrain to his original position? No, it •would toe well nigh impossible! Yet the stewards who should have known where Reed was at the entrance to the straight give him three months. EJven on top of this the evidence of two jockeys called was to- the effect that there was no croasing- or interference. And all the rest of the riders m the race are of the same opinion. What conclusion can one arrive at? Reed is innocent of the charge he is convicted of and if his appeal does not meet with success there will be perpetrated one -of the gravest injustices possible. In fact it will look mighty like a case of victimisation.