Jockeys Nurse Bitter Feud

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1042, 5 August 1930, Page 12

Jockeys Nurse Bitter Feud

SECRET VOWS TROUBLE AMONG THE PONIES Race riding in New Zealand is fairly free from accidents arising through a jockey achieving his object of getting some of his own back at the expense of a fellow horseman for some grievance, imaginary dr otherwise. It is a well-known fact, however, that where a rider is apparently wilfully Interfered with in a race through the undue attentions of another jockey, a complaint is rarely lodged before the judicial committee. Nineteen times out of twenty the grievance is nursed and the sufferer waits to get his own back in a later race. This is what a Sydney critic has to say of the conditions prevailing at the pony meetings at the present time: Days of feuds are not ended, according to a Sydney critic. Two prominent jockeys in A.R.C, ranks are possessed of a feud. They hate each other like poison and have secretly vowed to unseat each other whenever, and wherever, possible. Usually, individual quarrels are not of much interest to anyone outside the parties concerned, but in this instance the battleground chosen is the racecourse, and unless their tempers are curbed the feud is likely to embroil innocent people. The cause of the trouble is deepseated. The story goes back a long way and already flashes of ill-humour have been revealed to a few in the know. Do Stewards Know? Recent incidents suggest the stewards are aware of the feud and are doing their best to keep them apart. What they cannot do, however, is to heal a warped mind and sooner or later, unless better counsel prevails, the quarrel will come to a head. Should it come to a head in a race a serious smash may result. While it continues, however, it is likely to have a strong bearing on the running of some horses. That is unless the stewards, in their wisdom, are adopting a well-defined policy. On the other hand, these jockeys may have no intention .of carrying out their, threats to the full. Even so, it takes

but a small spark to bring about an explosion. Send Them to Rome! Feuds between jockeys are by no means uncommon. Incidents often happen in a race, which, if probed, would bo proved quite accidental; but jockeys are apt to regard them in the* light of a personal affront and nurse ill-feeling with a view of taking the law into their own hands at some future date. Happily, these quarrels are often brought to a close through some insignificant happening, and the breach healed. But it is on record that jockeys have nursed an affront throughout the whole of their racing careers. It might be better, in such cases, to equip each jockey with a steel helmet, a heav}* riding crop and a horse. Bet them loose on a racecourse and, like the knights of old, let them go full tilt at each other. Or else; send them to Italy, to take part in the world’s oldest race. In this event, jockeys are dressed as stated. The game calls for wellaimed blows at the rivals, and the horses of rivals, charging, crossing, boring, whip fights, and much other interesting, if painful, agenda. NEW ZEALAND CUP NO CHANGE IN PENALTIES ENTRIES DUE THIS MONTH The is made that entries for the New Zealand Cup will close on Friday, August 22, at 8 p.m. The event will carry a stake of £2,000, including a» gold cup valued at £IOO. The conditions of the race stipulate that a horse may be rehandicapped for winning a race of the value of £3OO to the winner, or races to the value of £500; no horse to be handicapped above 9.6, or rehandicapped to carry over weight-for-age. This is a repetition of the conditions prevailing last year, when the race was practically presented to Chide, and at the same time placed the handicapper in an unenviable position. It will be remembered that Chide last year won a couple of handicaps, which did not come within the rehandicapplng clause, and subsequently he started in the New Zealand Cup at his original weight, whereas other horses notably Historic, won and of course* their imposts were raised. There was some satisfaction after the big race in November last, for Chide won with such consummate ease that it is extremely doubtful if a rise of a stone and a-half would have stopped Mm. Chide then won the Canterbury Cup and the Stead Cup at the same meeting, and proved himself a great horse. However, with the same conditions ruling for this year’s New Zealand Cup, an .opportunity is offered for the discovery of another Chide. It will probably be many more years before such comes to pass again. Handicaps are due on September 29, as against September 13 last year. This will give Mr. J.. E. ITenrys a chance to wait until after the Wanganui, Avondale, Hawke’s Bay and Geraldine meetings before compiling the weights. LUCKY HORSE NURSING BY CONNOLLY DASHING PUNTER KNOWS HOW E. A. Connolly, Australia’s most dashing punter, docs not like the Melbourne winter. He is therefore usually the first of the Victorian brigade to arrive in Sydney with horses for the big spring carnivals. Jt is expected that Connolly will be at Randwick soon with a horse or two. Fortunate is the horse who is owned by Eric Connolly. It js fed on the best possible feed. It gets the best possible attention and in the autumn comes to Sydney and, after a stay of a few months, returns to Melbourne for the early winter, and arrives in Sydney for the early spring. It is never asked to race when it is not fit, and even when it is fit, is never overtaxed. Lucky horse! TROTTING FIXTURES August », 13, 15—N.Z Metropolitan T.t August 30 September I—-Auckland 1 ‘ ißelief Fixture) Septembei 6—New Brighton T.C. October 4—Methven T.C. October 1 1 Waikato TC. October 18—Northland T.C. Octobei 25 and 27— Greymouth T.C October 25 and 27— Auckland T C October 27—Oamaru T.C. November 11 13 14—N Z Metropolitan November 22. 26—Otahuhu r.C December 27. SO. 31—Auckland T.C.