Unusual Decision In Race At Gore Meeting

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28471, 28 December 1957, Page 6

Unusual Decision In Race At Gore Meeting

“The Press” Special Service

INVERCARGILL, Dec. 27. An unusual decision was reached by the stipendiary stewards at the Gore Trotting Club’s meeting yesterday when .an inquiry was held into interference by Ley’s Pride to Red Fyre ip the F. Wallis Memorial Handicap. Ley’s Pride won by half a head from Vinola’s Luck, with Red Fyre a length and a half back third.

Ley’s Pride had been the pacemaker over the last mile, but with two furlongs to run Red Fyre ranged up to her in the lead. From this stage Ley’s Pride hung out, in spite of J. Walsh’s efforts to keep her on a straight course. She hung out to such an extent that both Ley’s Pride and Red Fyre were carried to the extreme outside of the course, with Vinola’s Luck, which had followed the pair into the straight, getting through on the inner. An objection was lodged against first placing being awarded to Ley’s Pride on the grounds of interference to Red Fyre. The stipendiary stewards, after hearing evidence, decided to place Red Fyre first, Vinola’s Luck second, and Ley’s Pride third. There. was not the slightest doubt that Red Fyre was the worst to suffer and that Ley’s Pride caused the interference. But the decision to place Red Fyre ahead of Vinola’s Luck was beyond all reasoning. This decision, “the unanimous one of the stipendiary stewards,’’ set a precedent in light harness racing. It could only have been presumed that the interference

suffered by Red Fyre was to such an extent that any runner which was genuinely placed, should have a horse, which struck interference, placed ahead of it. The repercussions could be widespread. When Ley’s Pride returned to the birdcage after winning there was a demonstration directed against her and it lasted for some time. The demonstration was against the interference she had caused to Red Fyre. The finding of the stipendiary stewards was to confirm an objection against Ley’s Pride. That they should have dealt with Vinola’s Luck at the same time appeared to be completely out of order.

It appeared that the logical decision was that Vinola’s Luck should have been placed first, and Red l Fyre second. I Vinola’s Luck returned a, place dividend of £8 Is 6d and on the win machine she was paying more than £JO. '