UNRULY MOB

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10711, 8 October 1928, Page 5

UNRULY MOB

TAKE CHARGE AT ELLERSLIE

THREE EVENTS HAVE TO BE POSTPONED SEQUEL TO,BAD START IN MITCHELSON CUP SEVEN HORSES LEFT * BEHIND" CROWD RUSHES THE COURSE SENSATIONAL STEEPLECHASE VICTORY (Press Association.; AUCKLAND, Oct. 6. Unprecedented scenes were witnessed at Ellerslie this afternoon and an angry demonstration by a section of the crowd neessitated the postponement of the racing, Mounted and foot police were unable to clear the course to allow the racing to proceed. The principal handicap event, the Mitchelson Cup, contested by the Dominion’s best horses, • and the fourth race on the card at Eillerslic, was the cause of the demonstration.

At the start, only seven out of the fourteen runners left the harrier, the others being pulled up and one or two standing on the mark, apparently considering it was a false start.

The other seven horses finished the race, Laughing Prince winning from Desert Glow and Mask, while the remaining seven stood on the course at the starting point and watched the field pass. After the horses came hack, the crowd surged on to the course and, despite the efforts of the police, they held up the racing. The starters for the fifth race, the Hunters’ Steeplechase, went to leave the bird-cage for their preliminary, hut the crowd surged up against the enclosure and refused to let them out.

Later the horses were walked behind the stands and entered the course proper through an alley on the hill enclosure. The starter, Mr G. O’Connor, also adopted this method! of going to the starting point at the seven furlong harrier. After some further delay, the Steeplechase was started sixteen minutes late, with the crowd still thronging the course. There were many falls in this' contest and, when the leading horse, Mashoor, approached the course proper to finish the crowd rushed down the straight and attempted to stop this and the two followong horses. One fanatic ran to tho last fence and even attempted to drive Mashoor away—a dangerous procedure to himself, the horse and the two following hoi> se&. Only three finished the course. Seeing the hostile crowd in liis way attempting t-o stop him from finishing the race, A. McGregor, the rider of Mashoor, met their challenge and drawing his whip despite the fact that the other horses were half « mile away, he rode his mount into the mob, which tried right up to the last to stop him. Amid cheers from the official stand and the grandstand. McGregor punched his horse home to win easily from Cui Bono and Clockwork, who were almost stopped by the crowd. It was a sensational affair and shewed to what lengths the angry demonstrators would go

It is unofficially stated that the demonstrators made a demand to the stewards to appoint another starter; otherwise they would not allow the racing to proceed. Owing to the continual demonstration and to the crowd refusing to leave the course, -the ■■ committee decided, after the steeplechase, To postpone the remainder of the racing until Monday. The remaining three events will be run on Monday afternoon when the public will be admitted free of charge. Monday’s card will be staged on Tuesday. One man was knocked down by the horse of a mounted constable and the crowd set up a yell of “Full him off!” One man in the crowd 1 then caught hold of the reins and for a moment or two, matters were looking very ominous. The climax was almost reached when a woman refused to moye out of the way .when ordered by a constable, and, hauling off, struck him. When the judge, Mr Lusk, took his seat for the steeplechase he was vigorously counted out. The crowd were continually calling out: “No more races to-day” and the whole atmosphere was electric.' At five minutes to four, when no more than two hundred were round the entrance to the birdcage, Dr. McGregor Grant, a steward of the club, -supported by other of the officials, mounted the step-ladder and addressed the crowd. He appealed to them, but this had the opposite effect to that intended for, within a couple of minutes, all who had dispersed a. few minutes previously, supplemented by hundreds of others, rushed back to hear what was being said 1 . Dr. Grant was counted out and another angry demonstration arose. The crowd was still in possession of the course at 4.10. p.m., when the racing was declared off for the day.

OKIES TO WRECK THE TOTE DEMAND FOR RETURN OF' MONEY (iPresß Association.) - AUCKLAND, Oct. 7. When the crowd rushed the course and attempted' to stop the horses at the' finish of- the- Hunters’ Steeplechase, several spectators were injured. Mr J, J, Matthews, 109 Richmond Road, was "knocked down and sustained injuries to His'rifts, lacerations and concussion, He was admitted to Auckland Hospital. Another to suffer was A. Williams,. Peace Street. Rotorua, who had' His rifts injured and was also taken to hospital. In' the outside enclosure, there was a particularly angry demonstration and 1 cries went up to wreck the totalisator. For a while, matters looked serious, but. a posse of something like twenty policemen was’ rushed to the scene and their presence had a restraining influence on the crowd. While a crowd continued to hoot and count out anybody and. everybody, particularly those who looked like officials, a deputation of two iueri waited upon

the stewards, with a request that hackers of all horses who took no part in the Mitchelson Cup should have their money .refunded. Even if the club was inclined to. meet their request, it v was powerless to do so, as rule 14, part 29 of the Rules of Racing, states: “Unless Herein specially provided to the contrary, all moneys paid for. tickets f shall go to the dividend and no claim for a refund of" aiiy; such moneys '.-shall he allowed.” .This was explained to the deputation, which then withdrew. STARTING OF THE OOP EVIDENCE HEARD BY . STEWARDS . EVERYTHING HELD • TO BE IN Y ORDER (Prfess Association.} AUCKLAND, Oct. 7. The, stewards of the Auckland Racing Club held an inquiry into the start of the Mitchelson Cup. Mr! O'Connor, the starter, isaid that lie released the' harrier to the proper start. .Some of the spectators commenced to call out and, in his opinion, this was responsible for the other riders pulling dition to three that had not moved off, McTavish, rider of Te Kara, was walking his horse up behind the field and came up when called on to do so. The barrier was immediately released. The starter considered the incident was the aftermath of the false start the previous week at the Pakuranga Hunt meeting. There was nothing unusual to warrant him calling it- a false start P. Brady, rider of Queen Arch, said he jumped out at the start, hut did not know whether to go or not and, when the crowd called out, lie pulled up, after running some distance. He had no other reason to think it was a false start. A. Tinker, rider of Star Stranger, R. McTavish. rider of Te Kara, and Li. Manson, rider of Valkon, C. Goldsboro (Mint Leaf), H. Wiggins (Catkin), and O. Mclnally (Tidal), also gave evidence, from which it appeared that some stayed at the post because they did not hear the starter call to them to “go” though They knew that the harrier had been lifted properly and also they thought for some reason Te Kara had plunged into the tapes and released the barrier. Others pulled up on account of the shouts of the spectators.

The stewards said that they had no option hut to declare the race properly started in view of the starter’s evidence. Rule 5 of part 24 of the rules states: “The starter’s decision shall he final, except in the case of a start in front of the starting post or on the wrong course or before the appointed time.” SIX JOCKEYS HURT SPECTATORS KNOCKED DOWN BY HORSES cl’resß Association.} AUCKLAND, Oct. 7. Six jockeys were injured when them mounts fell in the Hunters’ Steeplechase at Ellerslie on Saturday hut none of them was severely hurt. At tho first fence., the first time round, two riders-—M. Conway, who was on Master Arch, and E. Warner, rider of Archangel, were thrown heavily. Conway, whose skull cap was crushed by the impact, sustained a seA r ere cut on the head and contusions. Warner; was unconscious for about five minutes. On the final round, four horses fell together at the top of the hill and all the jockeys required medical treatment-. SHenderson, of Marita, sustained a fracture of his right collarbone,’ while H, DuliouV rider of Rafferty, received injuries -to his ribs and" slight concussion. J. Sharkey, who was riding Importer, had his face severely cut and suffered slight concussion and Ri. Syme, w.-u fell from Pompeius, was picked up by the ambulance'’ suffering from shock. The St. John Ambulance had a very busy time, as the stretcher bearers had only picked up the first two jockeys when it- was seen others had been injured. Meanwhile, spectators had been knocked down by horses coming up t-ha finishing straight and these required attention.