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New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 167, 5 October 1893, Page 4

The “ riding to order” style of horsemanship which is unfortunately only too common on the turf, has received a salutary check by the action of the Victoria Racing Club in refusing to grant licenses to three leading Australian jockeys. The affair has created consternation amongst the riders in Sydney and Melbourne, for it was never dreamt by the parties interested that such decided action would be taken by the V.R.C. committee. When the time for licensing approached there was a general feeling that something would happen to certain jockeys, but those who felt they would be singled out for notice, never imagined that anything more serious than the usual words of caution would happen. But the men who at present have the guidance of the governing Australian turf body in their hands are determined to check the growing opinion that riding must be most decidedly and unmistakeably “cronk” before official notice will be taken, and as an earnest of their future intentions they have suspended George Robson, James Hayes, and Joseph Cunningham from ridiug at registered meetings, the suspension to remain in force during the pleasure of the committee. The first named jockey’s claim to distinction may be said to rest on the fact that he steered Glenloth home to victory in the last Melbourne Cup ; but that result was probably as great a surprise to Robson as to everybody else. Hayes, however, is perhaps as good a rider as there is on the other side just now, consequently his services are much in demand, and his suspension must mean a serious thing to him. But an example was necessary, and the three jockeys who were selected were no doubt answerable for acts which the V.R.C. has set itself to put down. The news that riding which does not commend itself to the governing racing body will be visited with such severity cannot but have a very salutary effect for the Australian turf has shown lately that the tendency amongst even first-class jockeys is to ride with a charming disregard for the rules of honest racing.