Riccarton race

Press, 14 December 1982, Page 24

Riccarton race

Sir,—The injunction by the Government to the racing and trotting establishments to put their own house in order is obviously not being observed by the Canterbury Jockey Club. The amateur must be replaced by the professional. The picture of a starter, frantic with frustration, trying to attract the attention of an assistant as a field galloped by which had left four horses behind trapped in the stalls, would be vfildly

hilarious if it were not so tragic. And it is equalled by the picture painted by the club of satisfied punters leaving the course, waving dollar bills, crying “Hooray, we got a refund!” The angry, bewildered punters were not satisfied with the vague, contradictory statements which came over the intercom; with many others, I waited for a long time after the eleventh race, to be told by the teller that no doubles or quinellas would be paid that night. I shall now have to travel again to Riccarton or send a registered letter to get my money. The assurance that it will not happen again will not be believed unless simultaneous changes are made in organisation and personnel. — Yours, etc., CLIFF POTTS. December 12, 1982.