One hot seat for another?

Press, 7 December 1976, Page 32

One hot seat for another?

Mr David Clarkson, judge to the Canterbury Jockev Club, will have a day off next Saturday. But he will still go racing at Riccarton, this time in the role of an owner.

Mr Clarkson races the promising Just a Song in partnership with the Riccarton trainer, George Humphries, and the partners will see their four-year-old run in the Kaituna Handicap; a 1600 m race for class 3 and 4 horses.

Mr Clarkson has cleared any confusion that might have arisen out of his twin roles in racing with the chief stipendiary steward, Mr Phil Reid. Mr Reid ruled that Mr Clarkson would be obliged to stand down from judging for any meeting where Just a Song raced. If, for example, the horse raced on one day of a New Zealand Cup meeting Mr Clarkson would be unable to judge on any of the three days of that fixture. The Canterbury Jockey Club’s Christmas meeting is a one-day fixture, and Mr Clarkson’s stand-in on Saturday will be Mr Geoff Bruhns, who is normally assistant judge. Being unable to race at Riccarton at the New Zealand Cup meeting, Just a Song

will doubtless show a zestful approach to his task on Saturday. He has been away from racing since October 30 when he was an easy winner over 1400 m at the Banks Peninsula Racing Club’s meeting. Mr Clarkson serves Banks Peninsula in a different capacity; he is a steward of that club.