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■ — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Jockey Wickel Reinstated by Board; Becker Given Additional Sixty Days Illinois Racing Body Rules i On Taylor, Miller, Murdoch, Kay Cases in Busy Session The Illinois Racing Board, at a meeting at its Chicago offices, yesterday heard six cases that had been immediately pending. Two of its decisions involved jockeys — Leslie Wickel and Fritz M. Becker. Wickel, who was indefinitely suspended last May 15 for rough riding on Mira Sador at Sportsmans Park the day previous, will be reinstated June 30. Becker, upon the recommendation of the Fairmount Park stewards, was given another 60 days layoff, following the original 30 days meted out by the downstate officials on June 3. Wickel was at one time one of the most promising apprentices to ride on the Chicago circuit. The young rider had asked, for a hearing on his own behalf concerning his indefinite suspension, and brought out the fact that he had learned his mistakes of the past, and that his decision to cut to the inside with Mira Sador in *he race in question was to prevent "jumping" on the heels of the horse immediately in front of him. Ike Bassett, of the Jockeys Guild, represented Wickel and also spoke in behalf of Becker, who was an absentia. Becker was grounded for a lackadaisical ride on Irish Whip at Fairmount Park. However, steward Ralph W. Choisser and patrol judges Al Gaal of New Orleans, and Ray Douglas testified that Becker might have been afraid of Irish Whip, a notorious cripple, and that his ride through the stretch was all that could be asked. Irish -Whip, who opened at 8 to 5 and closed at 3 to 2, finished second, a position he did not improve upon in his next outing. Chossier, in speaking for all three Fair-mount stewards, not only recommended the 60 additional days that the IRB finally handed Becker, but that the suspension comprise not more than the remainder of the Illinois racing season. Walter Jerome Miller, a 41-year*-61d groom from Grand Rsfipids, Michigan, was ruled off the turf. Millers license had been* revoked because of drunkenness and falsification of his license application. He was not present either, Keerle Caingerfield, steward representing the Illinois Racing Board at Chicago tracks supplied the evidence in the Miller case. Herman Jack Taylor, a trainer was given 30 additional days to produce new evidence in his plea for an Illinois trainers license. Taylor, who has served three suspensions, although two were back in 1945 and 1946, respectively the other in 1951, was licensed as a trainer in Illinois last year, but he said that it had been intimated that he raced elsewhere. Daingerfield and judge Ardan Roark testified in the Taylor case. Taylor had been refused an Illinois license this season. John W. Kay, a jockey agent, who had been ruled off at Fairmouunt Park a couple of years ago for association with undesirables, was reinstated. Kay showed where he had been working steadily for the past year or so, was married two years ago, and pleaded that being a jockey agent was the work he loves. Here of late, he has been employed as a bartender. Walter T. Murdock, a groom of Oklahoma City,, Okla., had applied for a license this year. His letter of request was reviewed and the board decided that his license will not be re-issued. In addition to those mentioned, those attending were Paul Serdar, chairman of the board; members Frank Warton and William S. Miller, secretary Clement A. Nance and William G. Carroll, who represented the attorney generals office.
