JUSTICE FOR JOCKEYS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume LV, Issue 90, 15 June 1925, Page 6

JUSTICE FOR JOCKEYS.

*Va 7Tet;tA« F'*‘' T ”' r '' T Sir, —In reference tb Hector Gray's disqualification through, an alleged corrupt practice, I understand from racing men that a jockey or trainer is not allowed to be represented by counsel at any such inquiry. Surely this is not so- if correct, what chance has Hector Gray or any other jockey got of stating his case before a body of men, some of whom may be biassed against the accused. It takes a. trailied and qualified lawyer to bear all the evidence and then sift blit the , vital points, so as to bring but all the chief arguments before an unbiassed decision can be given. What chance has, the average man of doing this with jiistice to himself. To illustrate this, we" have just seen by, the newspapers that an eminent, King’s, Cdiinsel was recently convicted in Christchurch for something one of his clerks had done. He was represented by another eminent K.C., of Wellington. I merely mention this case to show that clever and trained lawyers will not trust their case in their own hands to ensure a fair trial, and why should Hectof Gray or any other jockey or trainer be deprived of their living for life through being handicaped by having to fight against a small body of racing officials, sonic of whom may bb uhcdnscioiMy biassed against him. He’ctdr Gray must have the confidence and respect of the leading sportsmen of Taranaki (where he is best known) by continually riding for them. All his people are well known and highly respected farmers and settlers of Taranaki, and Hector himself is also a farmer and is passionately fond of horses; and if this decision, stands he call' neither train nor ride a horse in any British Dominion. Truly, a. very harsh sentence, as some of the eporpng writers in the city papers declare that his offence is not a corrupt practice, but is don© at nearly all the principal race meetings in the Dominion. In conclusion, I may say I am not a racing man, but being an old friend of the family, I write this with the hope that Hector Gray should have the same, right as everyone under the British Flag has in our Law Courts—that is to be represented by counsel, to enable him to get a fair hearing.— I am, etc. v JOSEPH McCLUGGAGE.