CHILDREN IN THE SADDLE

Otago Witness, Issue 2399, 22 February 1900, Page 40

CHILDREN IN THE SADDLE

A raciug fatality reported from South Australia emphasises the necessity for legislation in the direction of preventing mere infants and incompetent and inexperienced lads from taking part in the national sport. In the case referred to a youth named Doherty, only 12 years of age, had a motint in one of the races at the Burr a meeting, was thrown, and received injuries that resulted fatally. At the jnques-fc that was held subsequently evidence was tendered to the effect that tV youngster wps unable to manage his mount, and the iury in returning a verdict of accidental death added a rider blaming the lad's parents for allowing such a small boy to play a part in a race. The parents may certainly have been to blame in thi.- instance, remarks " Galtee More." but the fact that they allowed a mere child to ride does not acquit the s-tew ards of the club under whoso management the races were held from all responsibility in the matter ; nor does it reflect any credit on the governing bodies, whose duty it should be to that none but qualified and experienced riders are licensed to ride in public. This question wti*; brought prominently before the public when the lamentable accident occurred at Caulfteld. and in which a juvenile rider, hailing from thij city, lost his life. If the governing bodies in the different •provinces of .Australia have any charter for their existence, a leading feature of it should be that the national sport must be carried on under condilions that should, at least, safeguard the lives and limbs of the riders who take part therein. Every man endowed with ordinary spnr-e knows thai a lad under 14- yeirs of age has not physical endowment to control a high mettled raivhorfe, and that he cannot be expeeled to popscss the nerve and presence of mind requisite to pilot his mount in cat-es in which experienced horsemen find it a difficult matter to keep tl'eir heads. If the controlling powers in the various colonies do not make it imperative that jockeys under, at leasL, 16 years of age, and who lrave not undergone a proper course of trr.ining under a capable mentor, will not be allowed to ride in public, we may expect appalling racecourse accidents* at any time ; and if they do not take that course, they should be held personally responsible for the result. If the latter contingency were in force the iockey clubs would be more careful when doa'.ing with applications for jockeys' license, and there would be fewer accidents to record in that connection. The risks tha,t cppable joc-

keys take in the ordinary way are quite numerous enough without having to encounter those imported into the game by the putting up of mere children, who have neither physical ability nor experience to qualify them for the tasks they undertake. In the interests of the national sport it would be well for the governing bodies to move in this matter, otherwise legislation mußl be introduced to effect the necessary reform.