A POPULAR DECISION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 97, 26 April 1930, Page 19

A POPULAR DECISION.

The upholding of the appeal in the Lord Haldane case is one that will give general satisfatcion to all who were present at the Thames Trotting Club's meeting. It will be remembered that Lord Haldane contested two races, the first at a mile and a half, in which he was conceding a big start and finished close up to the placed horses, and the second at two miles, which he won. After his win the owner-driver, A. R. Saunders, Was brought before the judicial committee, and the upshot was that the horse wa sdisqualified fo rthe race and Saunders fined £10. The decision gave rise to considerable comment, and few agreed with it. Saunders at once lodged an appeal, and this was upheld by the Board of the Trotting Association this week, the race being awarded to Lord Haldane, the £10 fine imposed upon Saunders was ordered to be remitted, and in addition the Thames Club was ordered to pay the costs of the appeal. So far satisfactory, but the question arises whether the public who supported Lord Haldane were given a fair deal, and, seeing that it frequently happens that appeals are upheld, the position calls for some comment. Club officials carry out their duties chiefip in the interests of the public, but in cases where a disqualification is followed by an appeal, it is not in the interests to pay out the dividends on the course, and these should be withheld until such time as the appeal is dealt with. Boiled down, what chance did the backers of Lord Haldane have of winning their bets ? If, as happened, Lord Haldane was to be disqualified because bis form was considered inconsi'itent, then he should not have been allowed to start, and the same thing cops ftp art evey meeting. Once a hose is allowed to stat, then his backers should be paid in the event of him winning, even though the hose be disqualified. It is not much different to paying the dividends on a horse who subsequently does not get the stake. Those people who supported Lord Haldane at the Thames are to be sympathised with, but unfortunately sympathy will not return them the money they were 1 entitled to but did not get. 1 .