Talented Ellerslie Rekindles Memories Of Munro
- Monday, 24 May 2010 02:30
The Ellerslie Handicap, run at Betfair Park Sandown Hillside on Wednesday, brought back a lot of memories mainly for the wrong reasons.
Ellerslie was a good horse as a three year old, he defeated Vagabond by a head in the Burwood Handicap.
After correct weight was notified rumours began to circulate that chief steward, Alan Bell, was conducting an enquiry into the running of the race declaring that Darby Munro, the rider of Vagabond, had not allowed his horse to run on its merits.
It was a nice way of putting it but in effect Bell had declared that Munro had pulled the horse up and that Frank Spurway, the owner, and trainer, Danny Lewis, were both parties to the incident.
There was no adjournment of enquires in those days nor were jockeys granted a stay of proceedings, all matters were completed before those charged left the racecourse.
It was well after dark when Munro was met by the press to be told he, Spurway and Lewis were rubbed out for two years.
Bell had a score to settle with Munro and he made the best of the opportunity.
Munro was unquestionably the greatest jockey this country has known however was he that good to bring a horse from last on the home turn and be beaten in a photo finish?
On appeal Spurway and Lewis had their appeals upheld, as for Munro his was dismissed.
