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New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 193, 5 April 1894, Page 4

The question whether disqualification is a sufficient punishment for foul riding is agitating the authorities on the other side, and there are many prominent racing men who hold the opinion that the extreme penalty of the Turf is not severe enough to adequately meet the committal of that most cowardly crime. A writer in the Express advocates that the punishment which is meted out to criminals should be made applicable to those riders who are sufficiently brutal to endanger the limbs and lives of their fellow jockeys, and we are inclined to believe that the remedy proposed by him should be adopted. Writing in a recent issue of his paper here is what “ Reginald,” a well known turf writer, says :—“ Without referring to any particular case of the kind, just a few comments in a general way oh the villainous and murderous practice of foul riding in races. This subject has been so often handled that it is only waste of time to go into the heart of it. It will suffice to herein deal with a phase or two of it. If what one hears after every country meeting be true, there are a few jockeys at present enjoying the privilege of being able to accept mounts who would, there is not the slightest doubt, be a good deal more at home in gaol—their proper place. When these scoun drels go out in a race with an object in view attain it they will, by fair or unfair means. Woe betide anyone who is unlucky enough to cross their path, for they will stop at nothing, not even murder. If they find it necessary they will slap an opponent into a post, run him off against a fence, or bring him down by crossing ; and the consequent danger to human life and limb by their conduct is never considered by them. What do they care if some, poor mother’s son, a father’s boy, or a sister’s brother be carried in a corpse; so long as they gain a few paltry pounds by his death. This practice can and must be stamped out, if not by the racing

authorities, by the law of the land. It has often struck me as remarkable that the police do not seem disposed to step in and take a hand in such cases. Is it not a criminal offence for a rider to deliberately and wilfully bring about an accident that might fetch in its train loss of human life and limb ? Is disqualification for life sufficient punishment to meet such an offence ? No, it is not by far. Make them answer before a judge and jury, and if found guilty mete out the treatment that their cowardly (for cowards they are) conduct richly deserves. Policemen who are told oft to attend race meetings should keep an eye to this sort of thing, for their duty in this respect is as clear as day. The stewards also should do their part of the business fearlessly. It is for them to be always ready to receive complaints having reference to this matter and give them a thorough investigation.” The suggestion is a good one, and racing clubs on this side of the water might do worse than give it serious consideration.