TURF SENSATION

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 76, 31 March 1945, Page 1 (Supplement)

TURF SENSATION

Favourite Stabbed —Injury To Sir Ringrman ■ A sensational attack was made on ; the racehorse. Sir Ringman, with a ! sharp instrument yesterday after- j noon, and thus effectively settled his : prospects of starting in the Brighton i Hurdle race for which he was the hottest favourite for many years on | his side of the big double for the j opening day of the Auckland Racing Club's Easter meeting. Sir Rinsrman was running out in j one of his "trainer's paddocks at Takanini yesterday afternoon when he >. was "in the " best of health and; spirits. On appearance he was a j grand first "leg" for the double, but j somewhere about 4 p.m. some person entered the paddock armed with a keen blade and plunged it into the elbow of the horse, virtually pinning him to the ground. It had been common gossip in racing circles for days past that Sir Ringman would not run in the Brighton, and. therefore, when the news of the injury was announced this morning racegoers were sagely saying to one another, "I told you so." Positive Bediani On thai subject Dr. W. C. Ring, owner of Sir Ringman, and a veterinary surgeon of considerable standing," had something to say when interviewed ai the racecourse to-day. "My life this week has oeen positive bedlam." be said. "Since Tuesday last my telephone has been going night and day. friends, acquaintances and even strangers ringing me to know if Sir Ringman would start or what was wrong with him. "Of course, there was nothing wrong with him. I was out at Gray's stables yesterday morning and the horse was 100 per cent.~ Later I went to Titirangi. and at 4.30 p.m. received a telephone .message from Gray saying the horse had been hurt. Grav said he thought one of his cows might have horned Sir Ring-man. I immediately went to the stables and discovered that no horning had caused such an injury. "It was a penect incised wound penetrating right into the elbow, obviously done with a very sharp instrument used by someone who knew what he was about. The horse was virtually pinned to the ground, because he could not bend his elbow. I dressed the wound, but Sir Pangman was desperately lame." Former Incident Recalled Dr. Ring went on to add that in February last Sir Ringman was engaeed* in a hurdle race at the "vVaikato. it was even on that occasion a matter of gossip for two days before the meetins that the horse would not run. and someone cer tainly attempted to make sure that he would not, for. while Gray was changing his clothes. Sir Ringman was let"out of his box and turned loose on the main highway. Fortunately something caused Gray alarm, for he rushed out and chased Sir Rinsrman almost to the Hamilton before catching him. More fortunately still. Sir Ringmar started in the race and won.