Sporting Review. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1893.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 171, 2 November 1893, Page 4

Sporting Review. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1893.

It is a painful fact that a race meeting in Auckland is almost invariably followed by disgraceful conduct on the part, of the jockeys, and this growing evil is one that if not cut short at the roots will grow into a cancer which may do incalculable harm to the racing body. Since Saturday week Ellerslie has been the scene of the most deplorable orgies. Peaceable trainers have been disturbed and inconvenienced, respectable houses of entertainment have been transformed into bear gardens, and in short pandemonium has been raised by the elated jockeys. The same thing disturbed the Victoiian racing world until the nuisance attained proportions which invited the attention of the V.R.C., and the committee, led by Mr Frank Madden, brother of ths Chief Justice, made short work of the delinquents. The vigorous action taken by the Victorian racing authorities has, we are glad to see, been followed by the A.R.C. committee, who at their meeting on Friday last, called upon two of the offenders, R. Wright and Fennel, to explain their conduct, and a satisfactory explanation not being forthcoming, both the riders named were suspended from riding during the pleasure of the committee. The. jockeys have no one to blame for what has occurred but themselves, and the sooner riders learn that their conduct off the racecourse is as much under the eye of the A.R.C. as it is on the course, the better it will be for themselves and for the sport through which they earn their living.