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Vedders Reinstatement Plea Denied by Board Petitions of His Agent and Valet Likewise Turned Down Pleas for reinstatement of former jockey Robert L. Vedder, his agent, Edward C. Skirvin, and his valet, B. R. Johnston, were denied at a meeting of the Illinois Racing Board held here yesterday. Vedder was ruled off for life on August 6, 1946, while Johnston and Skirvin each were suspended indefinitely at the same time. All three appeared at yesterdays meeting and testified in their own behalf. The order of the board, dated August 6, 1946, was on the grounds that Vedder allegedly attempted to offer a bribe to jockeys Lawrence Hansman and Douglas Dodson shortly before the running of the eighth race at Arlington Park on July 13 of that year. The board held in its original ruling that the conduct of the three was "detrimental to the best interests of racing." The ruling held that Vedder had requested Johnston to approach jockey Hansman and ask the latter if he wished a 00 bet on another horse other than his own mount in the race in question. It further stated that the purpose of the offer was for Hansman to "pull" his mount, Politico, who won the race. The ruling further stated that Vedder personally approached jockey Dodson with a similar offer. Dodson was astride Five A. M., who ran second. Both riders refused. In the order suspending Skirvin, it was held that he Skirvin had made misrepresentations in his testimony before the Arlington stewards and that he did associate and "was connected with persons of undesirable character." All three, in their testimony, yesterday denied any knowledge of wrong-doing in the incident. The board also turned down the petitions for reinstatement of owners W. J. Jenkinson and his daughter, Lillian, who have been under suspension since October 23, 1939, in connection with their horse, Its Keen, who was found to have been stimulated following a winning race at Sportsmans Park. Philip Dominguez, an owner-trainer and former rider, also had his plea denied. Dominguez was set down on September 28, 1943, when a positive caffeine test was returned on the horse, Pari-Sucre, at Fair-mount Park. The board concluded its session with a six-month suspension against jockey Robert Raymond Camp, effective as of April 30, for an unsatisfactory ride on Happy Doe at Sportsmans Park on April 29. Present at yesterdays session were Edny-fed H. Williams, chairman; William E. Fay and Frank E. Mandel, members, and Clement A. Nance, secretary; William Colo-nan, assistant attorney general of the State of Illinois, and William A. Hamilton, steward representing the board at Chicago tracks.
