Confusion After “False Start” At Race Meeting

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28217, 4 March 1957, Page 8

Confusion After “False Start” At Race Meeting

(New Zealand. Press Association)

AUCKLAND, March 3. On the assumption that there had been a false start, the judicial committee of the Franklin Racing Club, acting under rule 205 (d) of the Rules of Racing, ordered seven horses which had already run the course back to the barrier for a second start in the last race, the Buckland Hack Handicap, at Pukekohe on Saturday. The rule empowered the committee to declare the race void and have it run again. The seven horses which finished the course from the first start, which the starter (Mr N. C. Trillo) afterwards declared to be in order, were High Queen (D. M. Kenan), Golden Future <W. C. Cotter), Pammette (I. J. Thickpenny). Princess Tui <l. Medcalfe), Peter Musk (D. F. Cameron), Madam Khordene (E. J. Wilson), and Royal Valley (J. F. Grylls) They were not placed by the judge, who also assumed that there had been a false start. Announcement Almost as soon as the seven horses pulled up, an announcement was made over the loudspeaker system, instructing the clerk of the course to return the horses to the start. From the rerun. Gay Sailor was first, Ghiberti second, and First Bid third. The seven runners which had already finished the course once were well behind the first half of the field and High Queen was tailed off. The confusion was originally caused through oue or two of the riders anticipating the start and gaining a break on the others. It was heightened when one of the riders, who was behind, called out “False start.” The situation was complicated further when an assistant clerk of the course, who was mounted and about a furlong or so ahead of the start, signalled several of the horses to stop. kin the meantime, Mr Trillo had

left the starting platform at the six furlongs barrier, but, three or four minutes later, he returned, and the complete field of 14 run-1 ners was quickly on its way again. No trainer was given an opportunity to withdraw a horse which had already raced, although several wished to do so. Nor was the public told of the judicial committee’s decision. Fair Start Not until Mr Trillo returned to the birdcage and was asked by the judicial committee to account for the false start did the committee learn that there had been a fair start the first time. By that time, the totalisator payout had been authorised. The owner of High Queen (Mr J. W. Short) lodged a protest, against the placings in the rerun, but it also did not go before the committee until the totalisator payout had been started. Its hearing was adjourned until a date yet to be fixed. High Queen, who was first past the post in the first case, was an outsider, 12. 11 in the betting and carrying £268 10s in a total pool of £21,424 10s. Except for Madam Khordene, the other six which ran from the first start were at good odds.