Racing: Veteran refuses to ride because of fixed wooden rail

It was a bitterly disappointed Noel Harris who left Avondale yesterday after refusing to ride because of a fixed wooden running rail.

Harris was not disappointed for himself but for the owners he had to let down to make his stand on principle.

The vastly experienced Harris has for two years been strongly against fixed wooden running rails, which he claims are dangerous.

He has been critical of the Avondale Jockey Club for using a collapsible aluminium rail for every meeting at the track except the club's biggest day of the year, the Avondale Cup programme.

Harris took one look at the track when he arrived at Avondale yesterday morning and declared he would not ride.

Because of Harris' stance, chief stipendiary steward Alan Coles allowed him to forfeit his four rides without penalty.

Coles assembled all jockeys in the judicial room, advised them of the situation and that the inside wooden running rail was below the required height in parts and that any other jockey that did not want to ride could stand down without penalty. All other jockeys made the decision to ride.

"I don't want to appear like I'm picking on the Avondale Jockey Club, because I'm not," said Harris. "But if I rode today I would be going against everything I believe in. I have to make a stand."

Alan Coles then called a meeting between Avondale President John Boyle, Vice-president Graham Morgan, committee member Ron Murphy and secretary Jim Patterson.

John Boyle said every attempt would be made to remove the old permanent wooden rail before the club's next meeting. If that were not possible the removable rail would be erected at least five metres out from the old rail. Jockeys agreed with those conditions.

It is ironic that Harris has been predicting a serious accident with the wooden rails for two years and when it happened it was to his own son Troy, who broke the femur of both legs when he crashed into a wooden rail at Wairoa last month.

"I'm pleased I spoke out a long time ago because everyone would now be saying that I'm only doing this because of Troy.

"It's sad that something serious always has to happen before people do things."

Ron Murphy said the rail was back to the old position because yesterday's meeting was a dual code affair of eight galloping and nine harness races.

"The harness fields of 14 required the full width of the track and we had no option. But we can make the statement that the wooden rail will never again be used."

"I want to correct one inaccuracy," said John Bolyle. "When Troy Harris was injured it was reported Noel had advised the club indirectly through the Jockeys' Association as far back as two years - that is not so. The first we officially heard of it was after Troy's fall, although (racecourse inspector) John McKenzie mentioned it to me at the Avondale Cup meeting in December."

Boyle said the AJC is committed to replacing the rail, but theft of a number of lengths of its aluminium rail has made that difficult.

"We've got quotes from Australia and China for replacements, but it is expensive and we are looking at grants to assist."

Cambridge trainer Don Sellwood was disappointed with Harris' decision, but understood the reasons behind it. Harris was to have ridden Talescope for Sellwood, who won stylishly with replacement jockey Cameron Lammas in the saddle

Harris said his son is making admirable recovery from his serious injuries.

"Originally specialists said Troy will have the rods in his thighs for six to 12 months, but it looks certain that he'll do better than that. He won't ride until the rods come out.

"He's going so well he's getting in and out of the therapeutic pool without his crutches.

"I think what is helping is that previously they used to open the entire thigh up to put the rods in, but now they open up this much smaller hole above the hip joint and insert the rods down from there.

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New Zealand Filly Of The Year Justa Tad was yesterday recovering from her plane trip to Sydney after arriving at midnight on Tuesday.

The New Zealand camp is keen to see Oaks-winning Justa Tad resume eating.

"She's only picking, she's not eating much," said Megan Liefting, wife of Justa Tad's owner and trainer Rudy Liefting. "At least she drank some water when she arrived at the stables late last night and we gave her a night feed before we put her on the plane last night, so that will sustain her a little way."

Justa Tad is housed at the Rosehill stable of former New Zealand trainer Chris Waller. She will be ridden by Larry Cassidy in her Australian debut in Saturday's A$400,000 Arrowfield Stakes.

Mercedes Derby placegetter King Johny was on the same flight and is stabled with Jim Lees.

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Harness trainer/driver Noel Brady picked the right occasion to produce a galloper winner, Run Like The Wind at Avondale yesterday.

Brady races the Pins 3-year-old in partnership with Sue Martin, who trains the impressive winner at Pakiri Beach.

"He should get a lot better with time because he's 570kg," said Brady.