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Battery Found on Horse Brings Four Suspensions Stewards at Ak-Sar-Ben Crack Down, Refer Case to Commission AK-SAR-BEN, Omaha, Nebr., June 3. — Stewards at AkrSar-Ben today cracked down harshly on a number of persons said to be involved in an attempt to use a battery on a horse in the eighth race last Thursday, May 29. Presiding steward R. A. Leigh today released the following announcement to the press: "During the usual inspection of horses in the paddock prior to the- eighth race on Thursday, May 29, a battery was found braided into the mane of the horse Precedent, entered by Elmer R. Rorick of Johnson, Kansas, and which was to have been ridden by jockey Eddie Burns. "The stewards immediately ordered the horse removed from the race, and when investigation revealed the other parties involved, issued a ruling ordering the suspen-* sion of owner-trainer Elmer R. Rorick, jockey Eddie Burns, grooms Donald Burns and George Junior Kelly. All information resulting from the investigation will be turned over to the Nebraska State Racing Commission for further action by that body. "The other stewards, A. J. Heffernan and Ralph E. Boomer, join me in expressing our appreciation to the members of Ak-Sar-Bens racing staff and the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau for their constant vigilance and cooperation in keeping racing here free from the machinations of designing persons attempting to bring discredit to the game." The stewards also ordered the immediate removal from the grounds of all horses owned or trained by Elmer R. Rorick, including Precedent, Miss Jera, Thru Hearts, TJpcetera, Bashful Titus, Buster Maedic, Scorchie Ann, Fearless Ken, Carlos Pride, Gimme, Lawshare, Lazy Lass and Blue Ariel. Following are the official rulings : "For affixing or having knowledge of the placing of a battery in the mane of the horse Precedent, prior to the running of the eighth race on Thursday, May 29, 1952, for the ultimate use of jockey Eddie Burns, which upon being discovered in the paddock caused the elimination of the horse Precedent from the race, owner-trainer Elmer R. Rorick and all horses owned or trained by him are hereby suspended for the balance of this meeting and his case referred to the - Nebraska State Racing Commission for further action, with the recommendation that his license be revoked. Owner-trainer, El-mer R. Rorick is hereby ordered to remove all horses owned or trained by him from these grounds immediately. The horses involved in this ruling are: M. C. Graber and E. R. Rorick — Precedent, Miss Jera, Thru Hearts; E. R. Rorick — TJpcetera, Bashful Titus, Buster Maedic, Scorchie Ann; R. M. Speck — Fearless Ken, Carlas Pride; Graber, Rorick and O. McGehee — Gimme, Law-share, Lazy Lass, Blue Ariel. "For admittedly participating in the placing of a battery in the mane of the horse Precedent for the use of jockey Eddie Burns, during the running of the eighth race on Thursday, May 29, 1952; and for further accepting employment as a groom and acting as such without having been licensed by the Nebraska State Racing Commission, groom George Junior Kelly is hereby ordered off the grounds of Ak-Sar-Ben and his case is referred to the Nebraska State Racing Commission for further action. "For admittedly placing or assisting in the placing of a battery in the mane of the horse Precedent for the use of jockey Eddie Burns, during the running of the eighth race on Thursday, May 29th, 1952, groom Don Burnsis hereby suspended for the balance of this meeting and tiis case referred to the Nebraska State Racing Commission with the recommendation that his license be revoked. "Pending investigation pertaining to the violation of Rule 122 use of electrical appliances jockey Eddie Burns is hereby suspended and denied access to and the privileges of these grounds during said investigation."
