THRILLING DEAD HEAT

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 155, 29 December 1936, Page 12

THRILLING DEAD HEAT

MANAWATU MEETING

RONA BAY. AND DUNGARVAN

(Special from "Rangatira.")

PALMERSTON N:, December 28.

Although there was rain overnight and light showers during all the forenoon, another large crowd gathered for the second day of the Manawatu Racing Club's Summer Meeting at Awapuni today. The showers, more of a heat nature than really wetting, continued till well into the afternoon, but enthusiasm was not daunted and the public freely patronised the totalisator. The investments for the day amounted to £28,277 10s, compared with £15,930 10s on the second day last year, an increase of £ 12,347, making the two days' figures to date nearly £10,000 already ahead of last year's three days' total.

The going was kept wet by the rain and it was a shade slower than on the first day. It was worse towards the end of the day than it was at the start, but it did not cut up very much except on the turns during the two final races. The racing was again keenly contested in most of the events, with good finishes, even if the margins were on an average a little wider than last Saturday. A particularly enthralling struggle was that in which Dungarvan and Rona Bay engaged in the principal handicap, and the verdict of a dead heat was well merited and enthusiastically received. The sprint saw the narrow defeat of the hot favourite Ben Braggie by Mata Hari in another exhilarating finish. Trentham was successful not only with Rona Bay but also with the maiden Alunga.

The inquiry into the various interferences in the Fitzherbert Handicap on the first day was concluded, when it was found that the occurrences were accidental and the result of one original incident. No action was therefore deemed necessary.