DISQUALIFICATION

Grey River Argus, 28 April 1943, Page 3

DISQUALIFICATION

ON OAMARU TROTTING TRAINER. CHRISTCHURCH, April 27. The New Zealand Trotting Associaion Board after a special meeting last night announced half an hour after midnight the disqualification of T. H. Gunning, Oamaru, trainer, for five years,, for corrupt practice at the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting at Timaru on April 10, the charge being that, being engaged to drive the horse Premier Royal, belonging to D. C. Lee, at Timaru, in the Otipua Handicap, he corruptly into an agreement with Lee that he would “pull” the horse and prevent it from winning. A similar charge was heard against B. C. Lee, of Timaru, the owner of Premier Royal, which won the Otipua Trot at Timaru. In this case, the board reserved its decision. There was a full attendance of the board. Mr D. W. Russell appeared for Gunning, and Mr R. Twyneham for Lee. Gunning has been training at Oamaru. After a reported incident in the jockeys’ room at Timaru, Premier Royal was transferred to W. R. Butt’s stable at Templeton. Joan Conquest was transferred from Gunning’s charge shortly before the second race on April 17 and placed in the stable of H. J. Smith at Addington. Gunning trained and drove Trusty Scott, the winner of the New Zealand Futurity Stakes on Saturday.