CRIES OF "DAYLIGHT ROBBERY"

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 1, 2 January 1937, Page 15

CRIES OF "DAYLIGHT ROBBERY"

DECISION DISPUTED DERBY AT ELLERSLIE (By Telegraph.) (Special to tho "Evening Post.") AUCKLAND, January 1. A demonstration which at one stage threatened to assume dangerous proportions was made by several hundred people immediately the judge announced the result of the Great Northern Derby at Ellerslie this afternoon. The hoisting of the numbers of the four placed horses was the signal for some hooting, and a rapidly-increasing crowd assembled opposite the judge's box, and the judge had a bad time. Apparently many people thought Martara had either won or was second, but his number was not included in the first four. Martara had made a good run round the field crossing the top, and was handy to the leaders at the distance. Then he veered sharply across the course, and it was only the lawn rails that kept him on the track. Martara finished fast alongside the outside rails, and passed the post almost in line with the fourth horse, so that in the opinion of those in the Press stand the judge's decision was quite correct. What probably led many people to demonstrate was that the judge erred in the opening race today when he placed Spearcourt third instead of Fox Moth, the former being sixth, several lengths behind the quartet which staged a great finish.

When Essex was being decorated with the Great Northern Derby ribbon several voices were raised in protest, but this only raised smiles on the faces of the successful owner, Mr. J. S. McLeod, of Hastings (president of the New Zealand Racing Conference), and officials. Many people objected, and there were cries of "Daylight robbery" and "Number six" (Martara's number). An unpleasant situation was cleared when the mounted men followed their usual procedure in moving the crowd off the racetrack prior to the preliminary in the next event. The demonstration on this occasion was absolutely unwarranted, and yet it was one that might easily have been attended by serious consequences.