TROTTING Long Demonstration Greets Manaroa’s Win At Forbury

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32217, 9 February 1970, Page 6

TROTTING Long Demonstration Greets Manaroa’s Win At Forbury

One of the stormiest demonstrations encountered at a trotting meeting in the South Island for more than 20 years greeted Manaroa’s runaway win in the Dunedin Festival Cup Final at Forbury Park on Saturday evening.

Booing and catcalling came from all parts of the course when it was obvious that with a furlong left Manaroa had the result in safe keeping.

This continued and reached ' a crescendo as the horses ' came back to the birdcage. : Then, when club officials ' rather unwisely decided to go ahead with the presentation i of the trophy to Manaroa’s I owner-trainer, C. J. McLaugh- 1 iin, patrons really gave vent I to their feelings. Their cries drowned out I the words of the club’s pre- . sident (Mr L. Duff) over the I course loudspeakers as he I attempted to introduce the I president of the New Zealand I Trotting Conference (Mr R. | J. Rolfe, of Thames). ’ Mr Rolfe’s words and those • of McLaughlin, when he replied were also obliterated. » However, when a call for cheers for the owner, driver I and the horse was made dur- 1 ing a short lull in the boo- 1 ing. applause and cheers al- 1 most drowned out the protes- 1 ters. Several of those packed I around the fence of the bird- 1 cage made disparaging re- 1 marks about the chief stipen- 1 diary steward (Mr L. A. But- 1 terfield), two being appre- 1 hended by a racecourse in-' spector (Mr F. G. Pine), who interviewed them in the inquiry room before, accom- ' panied by a policeman, he ! escorted them from the course. They were two unemployed, married men from Christchurch.

Much of the displeasure of the crowd was aimed at the stipendiary stewards, who granted McLaughlin's application to allow Manaroa to start from the outside of the front line, instead of No. 3, the position he had drawn. This was announced over the public address system, said Mr Butterfield, but few were aware of the decision and certainly off-course betters had no chance of knowing of the change before they made investments. Started Wide Manaroa drew the outside of the front line in his race on the second night of the meeting last Wednesday and broke, losing much ground. On Saturday he made prob-

ably the best beginning of his career. He was in front after a furlong and a half and from then on he ran his rivals off their feet in a hard slog through a fairly heavy track. Chief Command was within two lengths of Manaroa at the straight entrance, but a few strides later he was left floundering when A. M. Harrison gave the pacemaker a little more rein. Manaroa

cleared right away and won easing down by nine lengths after recording 4min 27sec for the two miles, an outstanding run in the circumstances. McLaughlin and his stepson, Harrison, combined to win the Dunedin Festival Cup Final with Allakasam in 1967. Manaroa earned a 2min lOsec assesment as a result of Saturday’s win and he is now eligible for the next New Zealand Cup. Asked about the possible sale of Manaroa to American interests McLaughlin said: “they’ve made some inquiries, but what would be the use of selling him? I’ve got to have some excuse to go to the races.”

The race was watched by the president of Yonkers Raceway (Mr M. Tananbaum), who is on his eleventh visit to New Zealand in search of horses to contest an international pacing series in New York later in the year. Mr Tananbaum could not have been other than impressed with Manaroa’s performance and he is certain to make approaches to McLaughlin.

Chief Command was given a splendid run by M. Hoimes and he was unchallenged for second, beating the fast-fin-ishing Stella Frost by three lengths. Her performance was eye-catching as she looked to be well out of her ground in the middle stages. Glenda Hanover battled on for fourth, ahead of Kadiant Globe, with the others, none of which was at ease in the conditions, struggling home at intervals.