Judge Reprimanded At Oamaru

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31060, 16 May 1966, Page 5

Judge Reprimanded At Oamaru

The judge at the Oamaru Trotting Club’s winter meeting (Mr G. R. Matheson) was reprimanded by the stipendiary stewards after a photograph had reversed his visual call of the finish of the Waitaki Handicap, the second leg of the on-course double. Mr Matheson was told that in future a photo was to be called for in all close finishes.

In the Waitaki Handicap Lauder Way finished fast along the inside to join Overtime in front near the line. Mr Matheson did not call for a photograph and placed Lauder Way first, ahead of Overtime. The course commentator (Mr F. L. Holmes) also suggested that Lauder Way could have won in a dose finish. Mr Matheson then called for a photograph of the finish. It showed that Overtime had beaten Lauder Way by a nose. The tiring pacemaker, Happy Wanderer, was a length and a half back third, just beating a strong finisher in Tahu. Waitaki Smoke made up ground for fifth, ahead of Ocean Brigade and Kingster.

Mr Matheson was in trouble in deriding the finish of the previous race, the W. Donaldson Handicap. In his visual call he declared for Unique Song ahead of Rough Sea. He called for two photographs before placing Rough Sea first by a nose. Sidi Barrani trotted an improver’s race for a close third, dear of Erin’s Smile. The first leg of the oncourse double was won by the Southland candidate. Vandior, a runaway winner at Gore earlier in the month. Vandior finished full of running and was untroubled to beat

Stormy Scott and Warily. The three favourites, Flaming Glow, Flying Step and Vantage, were not dangerous over the last furlong and finished well back. The Vandior—Overtime double paid £132 5s for £l. Third Win Set Sail gained her third win, all on the Oamaru course, when she beat Bryan John by a length in the C. L. Ayson Handicap. Her first win was at the Kurow meeting, held at Oamaru on May 29 last, and her other win was at Oamaru in October. Set Sail received the run of the race and did not have to push about to get clear early in the run home. Bryan John, too, was close and held on for second, ahead of the tiring pacemaker, John. Student, which did not receive a good run was a dose fourth, ahead of Golden Garry, which had every chance. Glen Dee proved a class above his rivals in the R. A. McDowell Handicap. He took the lead before the end of half a mile, and then trotted much too strongly for his rivals. He won easily by four lengths from Moonlight Bay, which was at good odds. Melissa made up ground for third, dear of Summit Talk, Madam Scott and Notulas.