STARTED TOO SOON

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 10860, 2 April 1929, Page 5

STARTED TOO SOON

CONFUSION OVER CHAMPAGNE STAKES.

BARRIER RISES FOUR MINUTES BEFORE TIME. ’

MONEY TAKEN ON “TOTE” AS HORSES’ NEAR STRAIGHT.

tSpeoial to tho Times.)

AUCKLAND',' April .1. The starting of the Great Northern Champagne Stakes'four minutes before the official time set out in the race card, created some confusion at the Auckland Racing" Club’s meeting at Eilerslie on Saturday, and haw raised air important-issue n regard to the Rules of Racing: There wore six horses in the race, and, according to the entry on the judge's sheet, .the field was despatched at 2.33 p.m. by the official starter,' Air. C. O’Connor, whereas the stipulated time for the raising of the - barrier was 2.37 p.m. t When the race started the totalisator was working at full pressure, and the horses had gone a cons.durable distance before the windows were closed, and further investments refused. , There were twelve acceptances for the event, but six horses were scratched. The preliminaries over, the horses Went to the starting post, and investments commenced' •to be pfjiced on the totalisator. Long queues were still before many of the windows when the race started unexpectedly, and it was only a general shout of “They're off” that told hundreds of intending hackers that the race had started. For several moments investments cent imed to be made as the totalisator officials were not aware of the start, and had received no instructions to close the machine. The time taken to run a six .furlong race is usually about, a minute and a quarter, and the. horses' were nearing the turn into the straight for the run home instructions were issued to close the totalisator windows. This was done immediately, although many people had placed money on the machine while the race was in progress.

According to the official race card the totalisator should have cosed at 2.30. Those who had invested money shortly before the machine closed suddenly and those who were “shut out” found on making their way to the stands, that the horses were* returning to.the birdcage. In the ordinary course of events there is always an interval of two minutes between the time the totalisator closes and the time the race starts.

The procedure in the event of a race being started before time is laid down in Part NX IV., clauses 4 and 5 of the Rules of Rac ng. These state: “A start in front of the starting post or on the wrong course, or before the appointed time, shall be void, and the horses shall be started again. as soon as .practicable. The starter’s decision shall be final except in the case of a start in front of the starting post, or on a wrong course, or before the appointed time.”

The early start was referred to Mr. W. S'. Spence, secretary to the club, last evening. He stated that no protest had been made to the stewards concern ng the event, and it had not officially been brought under the notice of these officials. Ten minutes were allowed for the lodging of a- complaint, and as none had been made, no potion had been taken. The race appeared to have been started early, but no protest baring been made no steps were taken. "Fortunately, no one. suffered through tlie early start. Air. Spence added. The result, had not been affected in any way, and even if a mistake had occurred, it would have been cemmonsense to leave the matter as it stood. The Rules of Racing d el not say whether a complaint had to be lodged before action was. taken by the officials, but as it was nothing was done m the circumstances, as the stewards were not notified. Air. Spence said he die! not think it had ever been the intention of those who framed the rules that such highclass two-year-olds as contested the Champagne Stakes should he made to run twice it the same afternoon as a penalty for an early ■ stark.