APPEALS UPHELD

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 266, 9 November 1944, Page 9

APPEALS UPHELD

THE CAITHNESS CASE

DISQUALIFICATIONS REMOVED

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The appeals of P. Louis, owner, H. A. Telford, trainer, and J. A. McFarlane, jockey, to the Racing Conference appeal judges in the Caithness case succeeded, the appeal in each case being allowed. The appeals were against the decision of the Wellington District Committee, which increased to twelve months a term of six months' disqualification imposed on the appellants by the judicial committee of the Otaki Maori Racing Club in connection with the running of the mare Caithness in the Ling Memorial Handicap at Otaki on October 7.

The effect of the appeal judges' decisions is that both terms of disqualification imposed by the Otaki Club and the Wellington District Committee are removed. The judges were Messrs. D. K. Wanklyn (Christchurch), G. R. Macdonald (Cheviot) and A. Miller (Hamilton), and their decision was unanimous. The hearing of the appeals occupied seven hours.

Messrs. Louis. Telford and- McFarlane were disqualified for six months by the judicial committee of the Otaki Maori Racing Club on an allegation hv the stipendiary steward, Mr. B. N. Sandilands, that Caithness had not been run on her merits. An appeal from this decision to the Wellington UuiUu.o committee resulted in the penalty being doubled and the deposits ot £5 each forfeited.

Mr. Louis races extensively, and the horses affected by the disqualification were Master Dash (ninnefr of the last Qreat Easter Handicap at Riccarion), Caithness (winner of the New Zealand Oaks), Flying Hawk, Sandy Cape, Note Raid, Battle Chief, Blue Bonny, and some young stock.