SYMPATHY FOR JOCKEY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20962, 27 February 1930, Page 20

SYMPATHY FOR JOCKEY.

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“ Having regard to all the circumstances I should have thought that the executors might have considered something beyond strict legality.” This observation was made by Mr Justice Wright in a London court in giving judgment with costs, against Henry Valentine Graves, jockey, of Wash Common, Newbury, who sued the executors of the late Mr Res David Cohen, the millionaire racehorse owner, to recover a retaining fee of £IOOO. Mr Theobald Matthews, for the executors: What your Lordship has said will be communicated to the executors, and the question whether something can be done to compensate Mr Graves, will be considered.

The judge added that it was with regret that he felt bound to come to conclusions of law in the. executor’s favour, because a jockey had only a limited number of days open to him to ilde, and a substantial P ai ’t of his earnings must be retaining tees. however, was a personal contract which depended on the continued life of both parties, and was mot enforceable against the executors. Mr Graves relied on an agreement of December 17, 1927, under which he gave M r Cohen first claim on his services for the flat racing season of 1928 for a retainer of £IOOO. Mr Cohen died before Mr Graves rode any of his horses, and his executors contended that his death terminated the agreement.