A FALSE START.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10729, 29 October 1928, Page 5

A FALSE START.

UNUSUAL INCIDENT AT MAKAKAKA.

TEN HORSES COVER FULL DISTANCE.

NAHI WINS ON BOTH OCCASIONS.

An unexpected incident that provided the crowd with a thrill of excitement marked. the running of the Waikanae Hack Handicap at the Makaraka course oil Saturday, the occasion of the concluding day of the Poverty Bay Turf Club’s spring meeting. Eleven horses lined up at the barrier for the 6 furlong race and, with tiie exception of Mon Mint, all got away to a false start and covered the complete distunce before the judge or the public was aware that it was a “no start.” The race, therefore, had to be re-run and curiously enough, Mon Mint, who was left at the post the first time, again refused to start, and singularly, too, the winner on the occasion of the false start passed the judge’s box ahead of the field the second time by an even greater margin. The field comprised Outfit (C. France), Mon Mint (P. Mcllroyj, Dimmer (it. J. Mackie), Nightwitch (N. Davis), Nahi (P. Atkins), lago (W. J. Broughton), Rapiata (A. S. Murray), Otene (J. Walsh), Evensong (C. Davis), Manutai (E. Busbridge) and Eastbourne (B. Kowhai). When the tapes rose the first time Dimmer bounded forward and within less than half a furlong had a good two and a-lialf lengths lead. Dimmer then momentarily pulled up, but with Manutai and Otenc on his heels, Mackie let Dimmer go again, the remainder of the field being bunched with the exception of Mon Mint, who made no move to leave the harrier. Dimmer retained his load well into the home bond, with Manutai half a length behind followed by Dtene. Half-way round the bend, Nahi, on the outside, came out of tlie ruck, and moved up smartly. Dimmer was still m front when heads were turned for home, .but well within the distance, Nahi came on with a strong run, forging ahead 01' Evensong who challenged him strongly in the°last hundred yards to pass the posts a length ahead Dimmer being third and Otcne* fourth. lago was fifth. In ignorance of the fact that it had been declared a false start, the judge hoisted the numbers of the first three horses. Then the crowd noticed the starter’s car racing across the oval, the starter's assistant making frantic signals to the judge. The spectators crowded to the birdcage and lawn fences and when the starter’s assistant called out “no start” the crowd took it as a signal for cheering and clapping, as the judge waved back the field to the barrier to re-run tlie race, and the numbers came down again. , The. field walked back to the barrier, and the race was re-run. Mon Mint again stood on the mark, and did not move until the field was well under way and the Catmint mare then reared many times and finally stopped. Dimmer led the field in the early stages, and Nahi, as detailed elsewhere in the description ot the race, again won, but with a. greater margin, being two and a-lialf lengths ahead of Nightwitch, with Bapiata third a head back and Dimmer fourth. After the race tlie Judicial Committee met to hear the explanation of the false start. The starter, Mr. R.. H. Skipwith, informed the stewards that just as hg had the horses lined up and had pressed the lever, he obsen od that Dimmer, ridden by Mackie, i\as m the act of hounding away, and that the horse was getting a big advantage.. He therefore had called out -No start,” and raised his left hand as a signal to the riders, this being done before the horses had taken two strides. Tlie rider of Dimmei evidently heard, and looked back, but ho’did not pull up, and the inexperienced riders who made up tlie bigger portion of tlie field had followed him- Obviously some of them realised that it was not a proper start, but they took their lead from tlie most, experienced man. The stipendiary steward, Mr B. M SandiJands, said that it was evident that Dimmer had got a big break, and that he would have been a long way ahead if Mackie had not pulled him tin. knowing that it was a nonstart. "One of the riders had told him that he heard the starter gall “No start,” and Mackie had admittod hearing something called out, but that, seeing the other horses following his, he had gone on. Members of tlie judicial committco were of the ouinion that tlie i lders were intiuencecl by the example of tlie more experienced jockey. The president, Mr J. V. Nolan, pointed out that it had been thought wise to have the facts on record, in case of public discussion of the incident. '