Jockeys In Track Brawl
Sydney Morning Herald
Monday February 6, 1989
MELBOURNE: Melbourne jockey Gary Skinner was fined $500 and leading Tasmanian jockey Stephen Maskiell was fined a total of $1,700 on two separate charges, one of those after the pair exchanged punches in the mounting yard, in a dramatic day at Elwick in Hobart on Saturday.
Maskiell also has had an inquiry adjourned by stewards until Hobart Cup day on Wednesday when he will face a charge of allegedly obstructing a horse's running by using his elbow during the third event. Maskiell is booked to ride Nakajima, one of the favourites for Wednesday's $102,500 Hobart Cup.
He was fined $700 for the fight with Skinner and a further $1,000 after being found guilty of careless riding in the final event.
Deputy chief steward Scott Whiteman also left the course battered after he tried to restrain the two jockeys and received a bloody nose in the scuffle, which broke out after the running of the fourth event.
Maskiell told stewards that he had told Skinner he was a "mongrel" after he allegedly tightened Maskiell's mount during the race. He claimed Skinner then set upon him and a fight broke out.
But the stewards took a slightly different view and fined Maskiell $200 more than Skinner, stating that they believed Maskiell was the instigator of the fight.
© 1989 Sydney Morning Herald
