ANOTHER HOSTILE DEMONSTRATION AT RICCARTON

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 April 1948, Page 7

ANOTHER HOSTILE DEMONSTRATION AT RICCARTON

[SPECIAL TO STAR] CHRISTCHURCH, April 3. Another hostile demonstration occurred at Riccarton today when Ronald Macdonald, ridden by his trainer, L. J. Ellis, won the last event, the Gimcrack Handicap. After winning the Papanui Hack Handicap, Ronald Macdonald finished last in an open class mile, the Christchurch Handicap, the following day. He wps prominent to the straight, but fadect out in the run home. Over the same distance on Saturday he finished on strongly to beat Wide Range by two lengths. The latter had also finished second to Ronald Macdonald in the Papanui Hack Handicap. Soon after he passed the post Ronald Macdonald was greeted , with boos and cries of “Put him out.” The noise reached its peak as Ronald Macdonald returned to the birdcage. When approached by the deputy stipendiary steward in charge of the meeting (Mr A. L. Lewis), L. J. Ellis said he would welcome an inquiry. His explanation was that Ronald Macdonald had choked himself when he reached the straight m the Christchurch Handicap, and he offered to produce witnesses who could confirm inquiry by the judicial stewards was held. . „ Ronald Macdonald has a wind affliction, and had previously shown a lapse of form on the second day at Trentham last month.