“PURELY ACCIDENTAL”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 107, 7 May 1936, Page 9

“PURELY ACCIDENTAL”

DEATH OF ROY REED R’ ’ THE CORONER’S FINDING IE i) le, EVIDENCE OF JOCKEYS WELLINGTON, May 7. The verdict that death was due to a iracture of the skull, incurred in a laj. from a horse during a ratm at Treutnaiu on March 17, was given by the coroner, Mr. E. Gilbertson, J.F., aftc r the conclusion to-day of the inquest into the death of Roy Jamv.i Been. “The occurrence was pftrely accidental, ” said the coroner. “Reed, an experienced rider, had the alternative of holding his position or of pulling outside the horse in rront. Me took al the chance, with the i esuit that the n- horse that he was riding hit something ie and stumbled, throwing its rider.” ef Bertie Hectoj Morns said that he ie was riding Big Dook in *he President V rs Handicap at Trentham on March 17. The race started from the mile and ae- quarter post. As soon as the field was s- released, he was lying about fifth from as the leader and about three or four oiu s, from the rails. as Almost from the time of leaving the if barrier until he reached the seven fur,n long post he kept improving his posrle tion, until, when approaching the post, •d he was on even terms with Sir Nigm ?r and Korero. Big Dook was ou the le outside, Korero next the rails, and Sit is Nigel in the centre. At this time s- Tunneller was in tho lead, followed by Spiral, and Hunting Cat (ridden by the ie late Roy Reed). The Race Described. ie Just after passing the seven furlong ‘ e post the witness improved his position u j piissing Spiral and Hunting Cat on ’’ Lae outsiuc, Hunting Uat being then 11 practically on even terms. 'J.n e s ness finally drew up with Tunneller and 3 on the outside. Ax ter passing Hunting e Cat he must have beeu two lengths m LS trout of him before he crossed over and lt ranged up alongside Tunneller. n “ When 1 pas.t d Hunting Cat,” stale ed the witness, “Reed touid, it he had e so desired, have kept up with my mount, as ho had a clear field in front e of him. Instead, however, he appeared intent to let me go. ’’ “After travelling & short dislanci 11 in company with. Tunneller, i hcaid ’’ Reed cad out ‘Bert,’ 1 looked around and Hunting Cat was then immediately G behind my mount. The next instant x s saw Hunting Cat dip or stumble, and ] Reed was tnrown his mount’s e head. ’ ’ Kight from the start, the race had been a particularly clean one. Witness nad a good run throughout, and was curtain that when passing Reed his mount never interfered with Hunting f Cat, or with any otlier horse in the a race wnen crossing over to range up ii alongsiue luauehei. e “1 am of the opinion,” stated tire r witness, “that the accident was caused through Hunting Cat getting up too a close to my mount, Big Dook, amt pos- - sibly stepping on Big Look’s heels, alia though 1 never felt any bump. t mount was not interfered with through ? out th-» race. Had Reed not called out » my name, thus causing mo to look r round, 1 would possibly not have known s anything aoout the accident till the _ r race had finished. I have known the ( f late Loy Heed for the past 22 years, _ s during which time we nave been in- ’ f separable mates. W ehave never had ] • any difference over any matter what- . Coroner: If Hunting Cat was pulling, . a why 'lid not Reea pull outside you , 1 puss youB . , Witness: He could have done so, but I il he nad another horse jnigtt ha;o slipped up into his position, leaving ? aim ou the outside of two horses. The witness said that Hunting Cat ’ hud the reputation of being a ha,.: ’ horse to manage. He had a long reach. - Reed had ridden ■ mi before, but had not spoken about it. Reed had appar- » ently called to him to put on speeJ. ’ knowing that the witness would d-> something to help him. Witness cou.'-l 1 have done this had there been time, as his horse was going well. After tutrace his horse was not marked by a\ cut or abrasion that might have Jeui ' caused by Hunting Cat coming in l . • - contact with it. ' Coroner: What would you have dore . in Reed’s situation? Witness: 1 thiuk I’d have bung fa. . Doctor’s Evidence. < Dr. D. C. L. Clay, house surgeon at the Wellington Public Hospital, stated 1 that he had examined Reed when the | latter was admitted to the casualty i ward at about 4 p.m. on March -li. : Reed was then deeply unconscious, his < pupils were fixed, and his breathing 1 sterterous. He died at 6.5 p.m. Ju witness’ opinion, death was due to i shock associated with extensive co-i- i tnsion of the brain following upon a J fracture of the skull. • ’ In reply to a question by Sergeant I J. Edwards, who conducted the in- i quest, Dr. Clay said that a mark on : Reed’s head appeared as if it had been 1 caused by the knee c-r hoof of a horse 1 rather than by the ground. It looked < as if he had struck part of a horse in 1 falling or as if he had been galloped 1 over while on the ground. 1 Evidence was also given by Joan < Leach, rider of Korero in the Presi- * dent’s Handicap.