ROYAL SILK INQUIRY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 261, 18 August 1930, Page 2

ROYAL SILK INQUIRY.

OWNER DISQUALIFIED. TRAINER >ND DRIVER EXONERATED. (Special to the "Guardian.") CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. After Royal Silk won. the Islington Handicap-, on the third day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club's meeting on Friday, his connections were called on to explain the horse's improved form, compared with his running in other engagements earlier in the meeting. Royal Silk, a four-year-old, owned by Mrs M. Harrall and trained and driven by C. S. Donald, competed on the first day in the Advance Handicap, one mile and a-quarter, for four-year-olds. He was supported to the extent of 247 tickets on the totalisator and finished fifth in a field of 11. On the second day, in the Belgium Handicap, two miles, class 4.40 to 1.35, he carried 784 tickets, and after o-oino- off slowly was never prominent. On the third day, in the Islington Handicap, two miles, class 4.40 4.30, he was favourite, with 2444 tickets, and won comfortably in 4min 29 l-ssec. The inquiry bv the Judicial Committee was protracted. It was commenced after the race, adjourned till after the last race, then till the same evening at the club's office, and was concluded on Saturday night. The decision of the committee was contained in the following resolutions: (1) That the committee accepts the evidence and explanations tendered by C S. Donald in renly to the charges of inconsistent and unsatisfactory running of thfe horse Royal Silk, and that no further action be taken. (2) Further, that Mrs M. Harrall be disqualified for 12 months for tendering false evidence to the committee.