BRONZE QUEEN APPEAL

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 150, 21 December 1940, Page 15

BRONZE QUEEN APPEAL

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, December 20. At the Auckland Trotting Club's Meeting on October 28, Bronze Queen finished second to Kinawley in the Invitation Handicap, with Musketeer in third place, but inquiry into alleged interference resulted in Musketeer being placed second, and Bronze Queen . third. When the report came before the Board of the New Zealand Trotting Association, the action of the club was endorsed, and in addition W. Clifton, driver of Bronze Queen, was fined £20. Clifton next appealed to the New Zealand Trotting Conference against the decision of the board in fining him £20. The conference judges, Messrs. H. Morpeth (chairman), E. J. Morrison, and A. McGregor Grant, have unanimously decided that the appeal be dismissed. ~ The judges in their judgment said they were impressed by the statement submitted by the New Zealand Trotting Association as to the prevalence of interference in trotting races throughout New, Zealand,, and of necessity in the interests of clean racing and of horses and drivers this class at offence should not be treated lightly. Nevertheless, the judges wish it to be understood that Clifton's case was not one of wilful interference, but in all circumstances the penalty imposed was justified.