Amberley goes out in a blaze...

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33532, 13 May 1974, Page 1

Amberley goes out in a blaze...

(By

J. J. BOYLE)

Amberley’s last day of racing on its home course on Saturday produced enough action to satisfy a James Bond fan

There was an alleged whip - slashing incident in the second to last race, and a protest, j-et to be resolved, after the last event.

And when the thoroughbreds left the stage young men with heavy feet and more petrol than judgment took to the course in their cars, one of them narrowly escaping serious injury when his vehicle lost traction and ploughed into the fence separating the home straight and a car park. The would-be Chris Amon was thrown into the windscreen, which shattered, and left the car with a bloodied face, to disappear into the darkness of the car park. Almost simultaneously two other cars on the track collided, but more gently, and before any more damage could be done the other drivers called it a day. One bemused bystander i observed: “A pity those traffic officers who have been having a feast on those motorists exceeding a temporary 20 mile-an-hour limit down the road were not here doing something about this form of mayhem.” As for the horse racing, one of the more intriguing sidelights of Saturday’s fare is that no-one knows with certainty the winner of the H. D. Greenwood Memorial, the last event run on the track. E. G. Low, the rider of Miss Hope, which finished second a nose behind Bill Blyth, lodged a protest on the ground of alleged interference over the final 100 metres of the race. Inquiry adjourned When the judicial committee found that another joc-■ key, G. W. Mein—he rode the third horse, Bar —who

was required by Low as a|( witness had left the course, t the inquiry was adjourned |1 until 10.30 a.m. on Wednes- ; day. I It will be resumed at Ric-|c carton, where the Canter-;j ! bury Jockey Club will be, (holding its May meeting on t that day. | I But because of week-day' 1 staffing problems it will not < be possible to pay quinellap and win dividends before next!) Saturday, when the Hororata 1 meeting is held at Riccarton. i; Earlier the judicial com-1' mittee upheld a charge of < foul riding against M. C.| Thornley, who got Peter’s i‘ Pick home first by a length and a half from the favourite, James Mellay. in the) Seadown Handicap. The inquiry was brought' after a stipendiary steward ’ observed that Skelton’s mount had been struck over 1 the head by Thornley's whip' about 200 metres from the; finish.

Thornley was suspended from race riding until May 25 inclusive, and the judicial committee switched the placings, promoting James Mellay to first, and relegating Peter’s Pick to second. The earlier races passed' uneventfully enough, and the) first inkling that it was no ordinary race day came when Mr H. H. Smith, president of the New Zealand Racing Conference, was mildly heckled while making a speech after the running of the Amberley Cup. There were cries of “No" from several people in the I members' reserve when Mr ! Smith remarked that the! club's move to race on Ra-i ngiora in future was a wise, one.

But Mr D. W. J. Gould, the veteran owner of the Amberley Cup winner, Sudden

Change, said that future Am berlev meetings would no: lose their appeal if the locs people rallied around as we' 1 as they had done in their own district for so man; years.

Mr Gould, who is honorar treasurer and a former chairman of the Canterbury Jockey Club, and a former executive member of the New Zealand Racing Conference, remembers going racing at Amberley with his father about 60 years ago. Declare was a previous Amberley Cup winner in his colours.