Inouiries At Timaru

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30479, 29 June 1964, Page 4

Inouiries At Timaru

(N Z. Press Association) TIMARU, June 28. When the field for the Thomas Seaton Memorial Handicap at Washdyke on Saturday was almost in line, two of the inside horses reared and thus shifted the inside four-stall section out of alignment, which in turn released the gates of the remaining 16 stalls. A false start was de-’ clared and the field pulled up after travelling only a short distance. After doing his preliminary in the same race, Lucky Son was brought back to the birdcage with a broken saddle which was found to be in good condition, the break being attributed to a faulty metal piece. Near the half-mile in the Winchester Stakes, William Robert (J. M. Cappie) moved out and caused J. R. Dowling to ease Channel Fleet. The assistant stipendiary steward on duty near that point confirmed that- the incident appeared accidental. Knight (A. Cowan) was eased and finally pulled up with six furlongs to run. He was examined by the veterinary surgeon who reported that the horse had strained the tendon of his near fore leg. Morris Francis (K. C. Thompson) fell with about a furlong to run in. the Kingsdown Intermediate Handicap after clipping the heels of the runner in front of him. F. H. Skelton, the rider of Gold Shower, was questioned about his handling of the horse. Skelton said that after about 100 yards his mount was unable to reach the lead, so he eased her in an endeavour to find room from where he could improve around the front runners. He attempted to improve near the half-mile, but the pace was too strong.