THE ALLEGED JOCKEY RING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 831, 8 February 1906, Page 8

THE ALLEGED JOCKEY RING.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —This is a question which was talked about several years ago. Some of its supposed members are dead, some gone to Australia, some driving carts, and some left to carry on the game. It is no doubt a grand thing when they are winning, but such illgotten money does people no good, and they mostly die poor. It is a great pity something cannot be done to bring up our young jockeys in the way they should go. How are we going to do this? for it is hard to teach the right way, so let our members of the conference think It out. There are several of our prominent trainers who say there is no ring, but as a matter of fact these jockeys ride to the satisfaction of these trainers, but not to the satisfaction of smaller owners and trainers. An owner often sees his horse ridden badly, and get into a bad position, running on the outside of course on the bends. It is easy for a jockey

who does not want to win to get left, or a dozen other things which will cause him to lose the race. The owner complains and the jockey says:— “ Oh, you are suspicious,” and quickly says: “Get someone else to ride for you,” and owner gets out of the trying pan into the fire. The trouble is that heavy bettors tamper with the boys, and in other cases of big favourites the books get hold of the jockeys. The stewards of our different clubs do not inquire into the cases brought before them sufficiently. They should sift it to the bottom. W. Price says he is going to ask the Wanganui J.C. to inquire into the case between him and Mr. Patterson I hope the Wanganui Club will try the case fully. Mr. Patterson is in a position to form an opinion different to most owners. There is a rule that jockeys shall not bet only by the consent of the owner of the horse he is riding. Some of our best jockeys are big bettors, and not always on the horse they are riding. Then, again, some of our best jockeys have punters who will put £2O, £3O, or £SO on for them. Let any worldly man think of the above, and would he be Suspicious?—l am, Observer.