Inquiries Into Poor State Of Dorstan

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30560, 1 October 1964, Page 5

Inquiries Into Poor State Of Dorstan

"The Press" Special Service

WELLINGTON, Sept 30. Racecourse inspectors are inquiring into the circumstances which led to the scratching of Dorstan at Hutt Park on Tuesday night He was one of the favourites for the second leg, the Moera Handicap. The attendant in charge of the horse found Dorstan in a poor state of health and reported this to the trainerdriver, J. A. Carmichael, when he arrived from Christchurch early in the evening. Carmichael asked the club’s secretary, Mr T. W. Marwick, for a veterinary surgeon and after Dorstan had been examined he was scratched at 6.54 ptn. The report of a swab is now awaited. Dorstan was suffering from a stiff and painful neck and was unsteady in the hind legs. A likely explanation is that an unauthorised person attempted to inject Dorstan. It was thought that a similar attempt to interfere with Spencer was made, but he was

passed fit tff race and finished third. Spencer was win, place and doubles favourite for the second leg. Dorstan was bracketed Aero Scott whose form was much below that of Dorstan, an easy winner on the first night of the meeting. On-course patrons were told of Dorstan’s scratching in time for them to alter their second-leg tickets if they wanted to, •' but TJtJB. patrons who had the first leg winner Control with the Aero Scott-Dorstan bracket were left with Aero Scott He was under pressure three furlongs out and came tenth of 11 starters. There were £7495 5s in doubles tickets on Control. Of them £Z3>TI 5s went on Spencer and £ll7l 5s on the Dorstan bracket, which was second favourite for the doubles, but 5/6 in the win and place betting. The stipendiary report stated “Dorstan was scratched from the Moera Handicap on veterinary advice."