Spectator Aids Brother Bill With Horse Whip

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 99, 28 April 1945, Page 18

Spectator Aids Brother Bill With Horse Whip

THERE was an element of sensation associated with the snccess of a horse named Brother Bill In Adelaide recently. The starter informed the stewards that Just as the barrier rose for the Balliannah Handicap an onlooker struck the horse with a whip. The starter went in search of the man, but he had vanished.

Brother Bill, who "was under threat of a ban because of his misbehaviour at the post in a previous race, got

away well and won by a narrow margin from Home Lover. The spotlight was on Brother Bill from the moment the gelding entered the weighing yard wearing a gorgeous orange silk rug. The horse was in a sweat.

The clerk of the course was the first to witness the whipping incident. He immediately dashed up and informed the starter, Mr. Wallace. They looked for' the man, but he was nowhere to be seen.

W. J. Rolfe, owner, trainer and rider of Brother Bill, was asked what he knew about the affair. He is reported to have told the officials frankly that he knew Brother Bill had been struck by someone with a whip, but Who that person was he knew not. Taking No Chances Rolfe was obviously worried from the time lie was legged on to Brother Bill by George Jesser. His horse had the shadow Of a ban hovering over him, and he was most anxious that Brother Bill should rehabilitate himself in the eyes of the stewards.

At the post, so soon as they lined up, he poised the whip high, watching across the lirte intently for the starter to release the tapes and give the signal. Immediately that was donp he brought the whip down heavily on Brother Bill's quarters, and continued the strokes lustily for fully a furlong.

It was very effective. Brother Bill went along generously on the rails in fourth or fifth position, where he remained until approaching the home turn. Then he emerged to tackle Home Lover. The latter didn't shirk the task, and he fought back tenaciously, but Brother Bill Came again just on the fost, and gained a narrow mastery.