DELAY AT POST

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 44, 21 February 1942, Page 12

DELAY AT POST

During a discussion on the question of unruly horses delaying the start of races and the latitude given them by starters, a question was put as to what was the longest delay ever entailed at a race meeting in the Dominion. An old-time rider, J. O'Brien, who is now resident in Wellington, although not directly connected with the sport, states that at the Gore Summer Meeting in 1912 a delay of 40, minutes was entailed in getting the runners in the President's Handicap under way. The principal offenders were Obsono, Lupulite, and Peerless, who quite belied her name. The starter on that occasion died about three years ago, and a southern writer recalled the incident at the time, claiming it as a world's record. For the information of those interested the runners on that occasion are here given:—Maple Leaf, 7.5 (J. O'Brien), 1; Obsono, 9.8 (J. McCombe), 2; Gold Sail, 8.7 (M. Pankhurst), 3. Also started: Lupulite (A. McKay), Champagne (H. Donovan), Peerless (F. Waddell), Graf ton Laddie (T. Pollock), Miss de Vere (J. Moore). Won by two lengths; same second and third. Time, lmin 1 2-ssec.