PENALTY INCREASE TO ONE YEAR

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 20, 18 October 1944, Page 9

PENALTY INCREASE TO ONE YEAR

Dismissal Of Appeals In

Caithness Case

The appeals of P. Louis, owner H- A. Telford, trainer, and J. A. Mcliarlane, jockey, against the six mouths disqualification Imposed on them by the judicial committee of the Otaki Maori Racing Club in connexion with the running of Caithness in the Ling Memorial Handicap at Otaki on October 7. were dismissed yesterday by the Wellington District Committee and the term of disqualification for each appellant was increased to one year, - Ihe deposits of £5 each wore ordered to be forfeited. ~ . . This information was supplied to ine Dominion” by one of the appellants, Louis, who also stated that on the advice of counsel, each of the appellants would lodge a further appeal to the Lacing Conference appeal judges. . The usual official statement bearing the committee’s judgment which has always been issued in past appeals simultaneously with the announcement of the decision was withheld from the Press when the inquiry concluded last evening. A spokesman for the committee stated that this course had been taken so that the appe • iants coluil first be informed of the decision in writing. In the long history of racinc appeals no similar action can ,.?® recalled, and the information was readily supplied by Louis to “The Dominion’ within half an hour of the conclusion of ‘lonises represented at the appeal by Mr. W. E. Leicester, Telford by Mr., H. A. O’Learv K.C., and McFarlane by Mr. D. Perry/ It is understood that witnesses were called to give evidence in support of The appeals and that the hearing lasted for more than three hours. The chairman of the District Committee was Mr. C. W. Tringham.