£13,000 WON AT RACES

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27274, 15 February 1954, Page 8

£13,000 WON AT RACES

THREE MEN’S SUCCESS AT BULLS DOUBLES DIVIDEND OF £3479 (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 14. Three Lower Hutt residents won £ 13,000 at the Rangitikei Racing Club’s meeting at Bulls yesterday. They were Messrs T. W. Bognuda, V. A. Draper, and R. A. Davies. Mr Bognuda races the horse Berserk in partnership with a former All Black. Mr E. R. G. Steere. Mr Bognuda invested £1 on every runner in the first leg of the double, the Rangitikei Cup. so he would be able to redeem the winning ticket on his own horse in the second race of the double, the Flock House Hack Handicap. An outsider, Lady Faith, won the cup. Berserk, also an butsider in a field of 19, won the second leg in the last stride, after being last with half a mile to run. Mr Bognuda exchanged his ticket on Berserk for a cheque for £3479 Us. In addition, he backed his horse substantially on the win-and-place machine, on which Berserk paid £lBB 12s 6d and £26 19s 6d. Mr Draper said afterwards that he had had a “hunch” that Lady Faith would win the cup. He invested £lO on his selection in doubles tickets. After spreading his tickets on his fancies in the second leg, including £1 on Berserk, he had two 10s tickets left over, and out of loyalty to his friend’s horse, he put them on Berserk also. This returned him £6959 2s. Principle Disregarded Mr Draper’s loyalty overruled one of his principles—never to back a five-year-old gelding, especially if it is a maiden performer. Berserk is a five-year-old gelding, and Saturday's win was his first. A Scot, Mr Draper commented: “It is too much money to win at the races.” Mr Davies did not intend going “to the races on Saturday, as he was working till 2.30 a.m. His -friends called at his home and persuaded him to make the trip. In the rush of departure, he took only £3, but this was augmented when he backed the first winner, Baithen. Through loyalty, also, he invested £1 each way on Berserk, and the bet returned him more than £7O for each pound that he had taken to the races. The other part-owner of Berserk, Mr Steere, was working on Saturday, but intended to back the horse substantially. However, he was unable to place his bet with the Totalisator Agency Board. Mr Bognuda. said today that Mr Steere would participate in the winnings in spite of his ill fortune.