“CRIBBING” POSITIONS AT THE BARRIER.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1519, 5 June 1919, Page 8

“CRIBBING” POSITIONS AT THE BARRIER.

LEADING VICTORIAN JOCKEY DISQUALIFIED. Commenting upon the recent disqualification of Victoria’s leading jockey, F. Dempsey, for two months for “cribbing” post positions, the Melbourne “Age” says:—“This case is the outcome of special supervision which has been exercised at Moonee Valley for months, with a view to ascertaining whether complaints that

all was not fair in the draw were justified. It directs attention to the paramount necessity for placing an effective supervision over the draw by responsible officials at all courses. Nobody with any knowledge of racing needs to have emphasised the importance of the barrier position, especially in the shorter sprint races. If the system of conducting the draw were to lend itself to trickery It would be manifestly 1 placing a temptation before jockeys, many of whom are mere boys, anxious to do the best for their employers and for themselves. At Flemington the draw is conducted with the aid of a machine, and there seems no reason why all clubs should not adopt a similar system.” . The Melbourne “Age” points out that jockeys not unnaturally are tempted to do the best for themselves if possible. This Dempsey frankly admitted he had endeavoured to do. There is no blinking the fact that the changing or manipulation of the marbles used in connection with the drawing for places has been a subject for discussion since long before Dempsey ever learned to ride, and he is decidedly unlucky in being the 'first victim of the stipendiaries’ alertness. The punishment, taking all the circumstances into consideration, is severe to a jockey o f Dempsey’s ability, and for the fir. t offence a

substantial fine might have met the case. The decision to disqualify him was not announced until after - the last race, in which he finished third on Lord Liddell.