RACING.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 14725, 2 August 1921, Page 8

RACING.

SYDNEY SENSATION.' ■

TWO DISQUALIFICATIONS

A sensation was caused in Sydney racing circles last month by the disqualification ,by the committee of the Australian Jockey Club of the wellknown ex-jockey, W. Lillyman, for five year's, and W. King for two. This was ebnseqiient on King, at the instigation of Lillyman, offering J. Lightfood the odds to about Moneth, as ■ an inducement to stop Montoro (on. whom Lightfoot had the mount) in the first division of the Juvenile Handicap at Warwick Farm Lightfoot declined the offer, but H. England, trainer of Montoro, heard of it, and properly brought the matter under the notice of the Australian Jockey Club. MontorOj it will be remembered, beat Moneth in the last few strides.

Lillyman, who has come into collision with the stewards on more than one occasion, decided some time back to retire from riding, but-continued a constant attendant at meetings. It is no secret that he is !well placed financially, and in such cireum • stances, it might have been thought, he would have avoided anything tending to an inglorious severance of his association with racing.

When the disqualification of Lillyman and King was announced; writes "Pilot" in the Sydney-. Referee, rumour got busy, and all sorts of tales ■went round as to trainers, bookmakers, jockeys and others whom this case had .incriminated in malpractices. Rumour was wide of the mark, however," as, on inquiry in the proper quarter I,learned that, so far as misdoings were concerned, no names other than those of the men disqualified cropped up when the case was gone into by the committee of the Australian Jockey Club. Nevertheless, the fact o£ Light T foot being approached raises the question of whether other jockeys "have recently to similar temptation other than Lillyman and King. 4 Of course, the answer from many racing men will be in the affirmative, but it is so difficult to keep these things quiet that something definite would have leaked out long ere this if such happenings were frequent. Some bookmaker or other is generally well advised when a fancied'horse is not going to do its best, and though,. I.'doubt whether much credence .attaches to the alleged numerous dubious happenings at registered meetings in, Sydney, /there may have bee'lt "times when one or two prominent layers would have found it difficult to~*explain the set they made against certain horses. The bookmakers Wjho handle- "dead 'uns," as well as owners,, trustees, or jockeys, who ; are , ( .concerned, will

have to be very circumspect in future, as the newly-appointed stipendiary steward, Mr. J. Higgins, has set himself the task of examining bookmakers' volumes in order to glean information. There are many racing men who. would be little the wisei after doing this, but Mr. Higgins is keen, and is unlikely to overlook much. It is r nothing new for him, either as examination of bookmakers' transactions at freqeunt intervals was one of his duties as stipendiary steward in Calcutta.