Driver Ordered To Change Sulky

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31504, 19 October 1967, Page 5

Driver Ordered To Change Sulky

Supporters of Logan Count, a firm 2/2 favourite for the Star Handicap at Forbury Park on Saturday night, had little chance of a dividend because of the insistence of the starter, Mr J. S. McKay, that the club’s sulky

be used. A tube on Logan Count’s sulky was punctured late in his preliminary for the race. Logal Count races in a longshafted sulky and his driver, L. R. Clark, pointed out that the club’s sulky was shortshafted and that Logan Count would strike the foot rest or cross bar when he was at full stride. The starter informed Clark that he could change into the club’s sulky or race with a flat tyre.

Wheels on almost all sulkies are interchangable and it would be possible to change a wheel more quickly than to change sulkies on a horse. Logan Count began better than in any of his races, but struck the foot rest and went to a break after about a furlong. He struck the foot rest again during the race and broke several times.

The Forbury Park incident shows that it is essential that all clubs be required to install telephones for communication with the stipendiary stewards from all starting points. Had the chief stipendiary steward (Mr L. A. Butterfield), who was in charge of the Forbury meeting, been consulted by the starter, he

would have authorised a change of wheel rather than the change of sulky.