JOCKEYS DEFENDED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 178, 31 July 1940, Page 9

JOCKEYS DEFENDED

“UNJUSTIFIED ATTACK” REPLY TO MR. McLEOD A message from Auckland states that strong exception was taken by Mr. N. Simpson, secretary or tne New Zealand Jockeys’ Association, to the report from New Plymouth and attnouted to the Hon. J. McLeod, M.L.C., in which he referred to “particulany clever riding by prominent • jockeys, ’ and stated that these riders would find their wings very considerably clipped in future. Mr. Simpson said the attack was unjustified and ill-considered coming from an executive official of the Racing Conference. Although Mr. McLeod stated he was not prepared to say outright that there was a “ramp” going on, he proceeded to cast suspicion on every prominent rider in the sport, said Mr. Simpson. His expression of opinion was in direct conflict with the published reports of the stipendiary stewards and racecourse inspectors, who, during the last couple of years had stated that the conduct and standard of racing in New Zealand were on a higher plane than ever before. It appeared that a number of prominent riders were, to use Mr. McLeod's words, “to'have their wings clipped very considerably.’’ In other words they were to be dealt with on suspicion and without trial.