INQUIRY BY THE A.R.C. COMMITTEE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 169, 19 October 1893, Page 6

INQUIRY BY THE A.R.C. COMMITTEE.

The accident was brought under the notice of the A.R.C. by Mr. Gorrie, who wrote asking that an inquiry should be held into the matter. The committee decided to accede to Mr. Gorrie’s request, and a fully attended meeting was held yesterday, Mr. T. Morrin in the chair. Mr. Whitaker appeared on behalf of the club to examine the witnesses.

The first examined was Adam Enoch Byers, trainer licensed by the A.R.C., who stated he was present at Ellerslie on the day of the accident. He went there with Arthur Buckley, who was to ride the mare Crazy Kate at the Hunt Club’meeting, and who wished, not to have a trial, but simply to get into the mare’s style of jumping. Buckley rode the mare all right until he came to the course proper, after the stone wall and then as he crossed to enter the steeplechase course, the horse stumbled and fell over the wire which was stretched across the opening where the horses cross from the course proper on to the steeplechase course. Mr. Whitaker: Did you obtain permission to use the track ?—I did not think it was necessary. One of the officials of the club named Gordon, opened the gate for me The secretary of the club pointed out that Gordon was not an official of the club, but worked for it. On the day of the accident, however, Gordon was not at work.

Witness, continuing, said Gordon opened the gate up by Crowther’s and leading to the course. Witness asked him to have a jump, but Gordon declined. He said he would, however, open the gate. Witness did not ask permission from anyone else. He saw Mr. Percival on the course before the mare started. Mr Percival was talking to Gordon close to the Derby stand. Mr Whitaker: Did you not know it was necessary to obtain permission to go over the course ? —No ; and lam not convinced now, and believe I could go over the steeplechase course to-night without obtaining permission. I have been over it several times without permission. Were you over it on the previous Wednesday ?—No.

Did you not say so at the inquest ? — No ; I said Buckley had gone over the course on a horse belonging to Mr Bell. Did you obtain permission on that occasion ? —No ; I had nothing to do with Mr Bell’s horse.

Do yon know it is necessary to obtain leave to go over the course proper ?— Yes, for a trial. But not for the steeplechase course. Plenty of people who are not trainers go over the course for a jump. The Chairman : Did you see sheep on the track before the mare started ?—No. Mr Whitaker : How was the wire netting supported ? —There appeared to be stakes driven in the grouud. They were about 4 or 5 feet apart. If the deceased was heard to call out to the mare as he approached the wire what do you think he noticed ? —I think he saw the wire, and tried to make the mare jump it. In answer to Mr Percival witness denied having told deceased to pull up after each jump to see there were no obstacles ahead. He did not say when the accident happened ‘ She has fallen over the wire,’ but ‘ She has got her foot in a hole.’

John Ruddy, caretaker at the Ellerslie racecourse, recollected the accident. He did not speak to Byers before the mare started. He was not aware he was going around the steeplechase course, nor had anyone asked him. He was about 120 yards awav from where the mare fell, and did not see her start. After describing where the wire netting was placed witness said it was supported by kauri stakes about six feet apart, and about 4 feet 6 inches in height. After the wire netting there was an inside rail which would also have to be jumped by the mare before she got into the steeplechase course. He was not aware Byers had repeatedly gone over the course without leave. When Buckley rode over the course on the previous Wednesday the wire was not in the position it was in when the accident occurred. All trainers knew it was necessary to obtain permission to use either course.

In answer to Byers witness said he did not hear the mare go down the tan track. He never recollected notifying Byers he would have to obtain permission to use the track, because he thought Byers knew it was necessary. He did not remember Byers taking Fishmonger and Orakei over without permission. He was not aware that people not training used the course. Robert Jackson, employed at Ellerslie by the A.R.C., was the next witness. He corroborated the evidence of Ruddy respecting the stakes which supported the netting. Anyone riding up to it could easily see the posts, but he did not know about the wire. He understood trainers knew permission was necessary before the steeplechase course was used. William Gordon was next examined, and stated he met Byers up by Greenlane about 11.15 on the morning of the accident. His reason for opening the gate for Byers was he thought the trainer had obtained permission and as he (witness) was going home that way he might as well open the gate for him. He had no authority to give anyone permission to use the course, and failed to understand how Byers could have taken him for an official of the Club.

The Chairman : Did you mention to anyone that Crazy Kate was going around the course ? No. You never mentioned it to Mr Percival ? No.

Mr. Percival : Did you say to me that he was going round with the mare ? I don’t remember doing so. William Percival, secretary of the A.R.C. described the accident. He did not see the mare start, and his attention was drawn to her by hearing Buckley calling to her as if to make her jump He (witness) was told by the four furlong post by Gordon that he had opened the gate for Byers, who was going over the steeplechase course. Mr Whitaker : You took it, I suppose,

that Byers had obtained permission and that Ruddy had made the necessary preparations to the course ? —Yes. Anyone frequenting the course must have known wire was up to keep sheep off the course. The Chairman said it appeared to him the Club was not to blame in the matter. The only person at fault, he thought, was Byers. The Committee decided to adjourn further consideration of the case until Friday. L The above is a condensed account of the meeting. Through want of space we have been compelled to hold over the full account.]