TROTTING QUESTIONS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27213, 3 December 1953, Page 3

TROTTING QUESTIONS

Sir. —Could an explanation be obtained for the apparent wrong placing of Lady Inchcape in the Greyhound Handicap at Addington on Saturday, November 21. This horse, in my opinion, had at least a long neck lead on Red Valley at the finishing post. Did the judge rely too much on a photograph which was not produced? Was a protest lodged, and, if so, was the judge given the opportunity, if necessary, to alter the placings within the prescribed time? Also, was the betting on Johnny Globe correctly shown on the tape indicator during the betting on the last race? It would seem impossible that this horse was paying as shown, at apy time when the totalisator was open. The public, to a large extent, place their investments according to the trend of the betting as shown on the indicator, and it is most necessarv that the indicator should not be misleading.—Your.s GENERAL SHAKE-UP. ' Ashburton, November 23, 1953. [The following reply was received from the Metropolitan Trotting Club: “Because of an electrical fault, the photo-finish apparatus failed. The horses were placed by the judge, and, under the rules governing New Zealand trotting, his decision was final. The totalisator manager had advised that the dividend indicator was correct.”]

Sir, —Having read the opinion of your sporting writer about the colossal fall of £42,000 in investments at Addington last Saturday, my opinion is that the chickens have come home to roost. On Show Day, the outside patrons were denied the use of the oval in the middle of the track, and were packed like sardines in their confined space, not one third of them even saw a race. The officials evidently think the public will put up with anything; but they are very much mistaken. Again, on the inside, at meeting after meeting, you see the same people who have never spent one penny on owning a trotter, wearing a stewards’, stand badge; and the 190 extra members’ stand badges are given to anyone but the owners. The fall in investments was a boycott by the public and owners.—Yours, etc.. RACEGOER. November 26, 1953. [This letter was referred to the Metropolitan Trotting Club, and the following reply was received: “The club welcomed the use of the area inside the track by the outside patrons, as it was specially prepared for that purpose. On Show Day the attendant there had stated that there were only six inquiries to cross to this area. Before the main stand on the outside had been destroyed there were no totalisator facilities, but since then they had been provided.”]