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OF A REFORM THAT FAILED English Riders Blocked Plan to Stop Smoking in Jockey Room Apprentices Are the Only Ones to Suffer SufferWhen When Final Ruling on the aiatter Is IsHanded Handed Down bj Onlcials Stephen Donoghue in a digression from his main story in the reminiscences he is writing for the London Sunday Express re ¬ counts an amusing incident of last seasons racing in England The account follows followsI I remember a sort of minor agitation being got up last year to stop smoking in the weighing room which of course includes the jockeys dressing rooms roomsTo To the consternation of the confirmed smokers the warning went around one day i during the racing at Newmarket that notices were soon going up on the walls forbid ding smoking by the jockeys and appren ¬ tices during racing hours This was a serious affair At once it was determined by all con ¬ cerned to get up a petition to the stewards I may mention I am no smoker an occa ¬ sional cigarette is all I ever indulge in Next morning a long list of names was thrust in front of me meCome Come on Steve sign this at the top youve got to be in this said Freddie Fox FoxI I started to pull his leg legWhats Whats it got to do with me I asked I dont smoke very good thing to stop smoking we might be able to see across the weighing room then etc etcA A FEW COMPLIMENTS COMPLIMENTSDeep Deep reproach scowled glumly at me from every direction directionSelfish Selfish pig Get but Steven Be a pal Have a heart Oh what a gentleman were a few of the remarks addressed to me meWell Well youll have to square me then I said finally and with u big flourish I signed the petition which was duly pre ¬ sented to the stewards and at the next meet ¬ ing four of us were asked to an interview to discuss the matter matterFrank Frank Bullock Bert Jones Jelliss and my ¬ self made our way to the stewards loom Brownie Carslake arrived somewhat late so he missed being in this We found Sir Berkeley Sheffield always most kindly and courteous to us all seated alone at the table tableWell Well said he about this smoking now Surely it would be a good thing to give it up during racing Im a smoker myself I shouldnt like to give up smoking altogether but just for three hours or so its not long Such a bad thing too for the ap ¬ prentices They cant possibly ride so well as they otherwise would It must affect the wind so bad for you all What do you say Donoghue DonoghueI I hesitated and looked at my brother jockeys Thats done it I could see written plainly on all their faces Steves going to spoil everything now Warning frowns met my eyes as I glanced around aroundPASSING PASSING THE BUCK BUCKWell Well Sir Berkeley I replied slowly Im not a great smoker myself Perhaps one of the others could tell you more on that point pointWith With a sigh of relief Bert Jones threw himself into the breach breachYou You see Sir Berkeley said Bert Ive been riding for How many years Bert well many years and smokings never done me any harm nor affected my riding Im certain certainFrank Frank Bullock then informed Sir Berkeley that he could not see any necessity for the proposed new rule A cigarette between races is just what a jockey needs Frank told him It calms the nerves after a strenuous race and takes the mind off things It would be impossible to do without i cigarettte after hard wasting for instance I know I couldnt I would rather go with ¬ out i meal mealJelliss Jelliss indorsed all that the other two had said and then I chimed in inIt It would not be very nice would it to see a jockey going out into the paddock with a cigarette between his lips because they would have to smoke somewhere it could never be stopped altogether altogetherSo So Sir Berkeley decided tliat the matter should be left as it was where the senior jockeys were concerned but that the rule must be passed in the case of the appren ¬ tices we all promised to help in seeing this carried out and left the room in high glee gleeBut But of course the apprentices didnt say a word
