Race Winner Scratched In Error

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31346, 17 April 1967, Page 1

Race Winner Scratched In Error

Two horses incorrectly listed as scratchings by the New Zealand Press Association in a message from Wellington distributed to morning newspapers on Friday evening, helped to make the Lyndhurst Handicap the most eventful seen at the Methven Trotting Club’s autumn meeting on Saturday.

One of them, Highland Fortress won well, white the other, Wallacetewn, bounded at the start, breaking a rein. Wallacetown, a hot favourite for the race galloped for about two miles before he unseated his driver, E. Cowie. The inclusion of Highland Fortress and Wallacetown among the scratchings for the race published on Saturday morning caused confusion among patrons and club officials. Several announcements were made over the public address system advising patrons that the two horses were definite starters.

Highland Fortress, after galloping for a time in the first six furlongs, was always handy and he won by a neck from Doctor Scott He paid £9 8s 6d for a win and £2 7s for a place in spite of the fact .that he had been a winner a I week earlier at Rangiora. Wallacetown galloped along near the tail of the field and wide out on the track. He caused no interference to any other runner. After galloping for about two miles he swung round and unseated his driver, who held on to the remaining rein for almost a

furlong with the horse galloping madly back towards the birdcage. Two spectator* caught Wallacetown after about a furlong, but as one attempted to

adjust some of the horse’s harness he lashed out, reared and plunged and broke free again. In the meantime his partowner, Mr A. B. Holmes, had got into the sulky of Space Chief, a runner in the same race. He attempted to catch the horse as he galloped past, but failed.

Wallacetown’s girth had slipped and the sulky swung wildly from side to side. The frightened horse was caught

again about 75 yards from the finishing post, but once more he broke away, losing the sulky as he plunged. He galloped towards the outside fence, with the crowd leaping back. However, Wallacetown slipped and fell, after which he was caught and led away. He did not appear to have suffered any serious injury, but was obviously badly shaken.

Wallacetown’s performance was the start of some extre-

mely rough racing during the remainder of the day. Most of this was the result of unwieldy fields, most of which had from 19 to 24 starters.

In the same message from the Press Association, another horse. Smokey Gamble, was also listed as scratched from the Lyndhurst Trot He was, in fact, scratched from the second race, the Highbank Handicap. The Press Association says that the errors are regretted.