STARTING GATE FAILS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27036, 11 May 1953, Page 8

STARTING GATE FAILS

Mishap At Te Rapa Races FIVE HORSES HELD IN STALLS (New Zealand Preu Association) 1 AUCKLAND. May 11 Because of a failure in a new tjj» of starting gate, five horses were » tained in their stalls while the rest« the field gained 40 or 50 yards in tbs Gordonton Hack Plate at the Waikito Racing Club’s meeting at Te Rapa te Saturday. The horses were Inclusive, PriM Hiwai. Stratocruiser, Gold Vixen, SM Totnes. Inclusive wag a warm favourite «■ Prince Hiwai was also well backed. Divestments on all the five horses wen slightly more than a quarter of w total on the race. Betters on th* horses lost their money. There w® £2422 on Inclusive, £1614 on Print* Hiwai, £238 on Totnes. £ll7 on Str**; cruiser, and £67 on Gold Vixen. W total investments were £16,518. It was the first race-day test of ®* starting gate. After the race, the » lowing statement was handed tow Sress: “The judicial committee met® iscuss the difficulty with the startirt gate in the Gordonton Hack Pag when the five outside stalls were sIW to open. Evidence was given by w jockeys concerned, the starter's steward (Mr G. J. Peach), the starter* C. Clarking), and W. J, Mudford, wwdent of the New Zealand Jockey? Aft sociation. No reason could be for the failure. “The judicial committee decided W» the club would not use the startw gate for the last two days of the ntew ing. and would revert to the start®! stalls used for previous meetings. ... The Gordonton Hack Plate was w seventh race. The last race of the w. the Whatawhata Hack Handicap. *® started without stalls. J „ At previous meetings stalls baa Wg used which had a gate at the back.**! front was open, except for the usw barrier strand. The starting gate on Saturday proved satisfactory tested last week. Last Thursday* was demonstrated with three or W® horses before the committee of w Waikato Racing Club. 8