IN A TIGHT FIX.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume I, Issue 38, 18 April 1891, Page 6

IN A TIGHT FIX.

We take the following article from the Sydney Referee, which will doubtless prove of interest to our readers :— Human nature is unfortunately prone to err, and when anything contrary to honesty crops up in a race people are more likely to blame the jockey than the owner. It must not be imagined for an instant that we are attempting to take sides with jockeys and hold them up as paragons of uprightness; far from it, as we know beyond contradiction that in the ranks of our riders are men and boys whose whole careers have been nothing more nor less than a series of barefaced robberies and plunder. Still there are others who have to the best of their ability done that which is right, and were the two classes ranged in line no doubt whatever exists as to which division would be held in the highest respect, and which is the better off. It is all very well for those looking at a race to cast slurs about So-and-So, designate him an unmitigated scoundrel, and such like. People should remember that the lad is carrying out orders given him from his master, failing which he will be told to stand down, and another will be secured who will obey. This state of things has existed for all time, but it was never half so rampant as at present, which is attributable to the fact. that we have so much racing. We are perfectly aware that many jockeys are only too willing to lend themselves to anything of a shady nature ; and we know for a truth that some of them live almost entirely by pulling horses, a practice in which they have become so expert that it is almost impossible to detect them. Names could be mentioned, which a year or two ago always found a place in a race ; but it would take some searching in later days to find them mentioned at all, unless records of the last horses were given. While this goes undisputed, the question may be asked, “ How does that come about ? ” It can easily be answered. To our personal knowledge we know of cases where the services of riders attached to what are termed “ square ” stables have been and are ignored Cor no other reason than that the lads will not be allowed to ride “ stiff.” This gives the “Johnny Armstrong” division an opportunity for a mount when they are required to pull, but it seldom occurs that their services are brought into requisition when the same animal is “wanted.” The “stiff” jockey, as everyone knows, is of the impecunious class, and a losing mount is always welcome. There is no such thing known to him as throwing over the stable and annexing a race when his orders are “not to win.” That would be treason, and one dirty action on his part in that direction would be sufficient to relegate him to oblivion for the remainder of his existence, as his disobedience to orders would be made known to other trainers and owners who might be in quest of his services, when they would argue that if he threw over Jack he would also throw over Jill. The ambition of every youngster when he first takes to jockeying is to win, and no monarch is prouder of his position than the lad the first time he passes the judge’s box a winner. The novelty in hundreds of instances, however, wears off too soon, no matter hpw honest the lad may be, and he is easily led dr

compelled to do what he is told. In the run it has its reward, and he finds himself despised by the very people who, when he was recognised as a straight goer, showered praises on himself and his skill, while those who are the means of bringing him to beggary and want turn a deaf ear to his entreaties for assistance in the hour of need. * * * Having pointed out some of the tactics resorted to by the unscrupulous trainer and owner, we wish to illustrate that it frequently happens that the best most honest, and leading jockeys fall in for an amount of odium being showered at them when tney are not guilty. Everyone will admit that there are two sides to a question (the right and the wrong), and in order to illustrate how those who will not allow themselves knowingly to be got at are caught, we give an instance which occurred a few days ago, and is the cause of this article being penned. A certain trainer who is ever noted for crying about the weight his horses are asked to carry devised a scheme after the following fashion in order to take the handicapper off the scent. Knowing full well that the adjuster has good grounds for being acquainted with the “ non-trying division,” the idea struck him that he would get a recognised straight rider to steer his horses in their races, and succeeding in so doing, the public immediately backed the jockey’s mount to such an extent that the horse was made a firm first favourite. In order to make everything look correct the horse was led out, and the final instructions to the rider were — u Get well away and keep him going; I think vou’ll win easy.” The start was effected, the horse got well away, and was with the first flight for a couple of furlongs, when it collapsed, and no amount of persuasion could get it to go faster. On returning to scale the jockey, anticipating getting a win, looked somewhat dejected, and expected to be asked for an explanation by the stewards, but felt a heavy burden lifted when such was not demanded. Scarcely, however, had he left the dressing-room when he met the gentleman he invariably rides for, and without waiting to be questioned he remarked, “ Lor’ bli’me, he’s a hot ’un, he had the horse stuffed. I thought t h e would fall with me after going two furlongs.” Here then is one instance of how a harmless lad might easily have been disqualified and looked upon as a rogue through no fault of his own : but through the manipulation of an unscrupulous being, who was using him for his own ends—the lad all the time being ignorant of the job put up on him. Hundreds of similar cases could be mentioned, and doubtless hundreds of inoffensive riders relegated to obscurity, and deprived of a livelihood by such actions. The moral is this, “ Don t always blame the rider, who is as often had as yourself, but transfer your disgust to older hands, many of whom when riding themselves became pastmasters in the art of thievery and wrong-doing, and who prefer carrying on the nefarious business to the legitimate, because they are more conversant with the former branch than the latter.”