Trotting Club May Gain From Triple Dead-Heat

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28471, 28 December 1957, Page 8

Trotting Club May Gain From Triple Dead-Heat

(From Our Own Reporter)

WESTPORT, Dec. 27. Faced with a difficulty because of the atrocious weather today for the first day of the annual race meeting of the Westport Trotting Club, the stewards may gain from the result of the last race. Tn the race, the President’s Handicap, three horses. Night Owl Wimpy and Keff, dead-heated for first place. It is the first time the photo-finish camera has recorded such a result in New Zealand in either a trotting or galloping event and it is understood to be only the third time since the camera has been used to assist the judge. The first was on an American track some years ago and last in November at Flemington when Ark Royal, -Randies Sun and Fighting Force dead-heated. It is understood that the firm, Photo Finishes of Australia, Ltd., has always offered £lOOO to the first club in any country where its cameras record a triple dead-heat. If that is the case the Westport Club may at least square itself on the normal loss on today’s racing Loss Last Year Last year the club lost £l5OO when rain almost washed out the two days’ racing and it was only to keep faith with visiting owners after a postponement from yesterday that a decision was made to carry on today. For a small club such a blow is most severe but if the photo finish bonus eventuates the decision to carry on even under the most adverse conditions will have been a lucky one. The race was the best of the day with four horses sorting selves out in the last 100 yards—the trotter, Glengallan, and the

pacers Wimpy, Night Owl and Keff. The trotter dropped back in the last few strides leaving the other three in a buch. It was some time before the judge (Mr J. P. McEnaney) was able to advise his assistant (Mr P. Colvin) to associate the three horses in the first frame. The drivers, M. C. Flaws (Keff) G. Cameron (Night Owl) and J H. Butterick (Wimpy) all had different versions of the finisn while they were awaiting the result.

Flaws was certain that Cameron’s wheel was in front of him and Butterick felt that Wimpy had broken on the post and might have lost his chance. Then No. 9. Keff, was first placed in the slide. Cameron went to drive his horse away but was called back by the other drivers when the other two numbers appeared in the same group. The stipendary steward (Mr J H. Lang) was in a dilemma when he was called on to name the driver of the winning horse to draw the marble to decide whethei or not the winner was to be swabbed. He decided on Keff which he thought had won in the first place but Flaws drew the white marble which made swabbing unnecessary. A large crowd flocked round the photo finish frame after the race Wimpy and Night Owl were coupled on the totalisator.