A JUST DECISION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 27, 31 December 1925, Page 6

A JUST DECISION.

FINISH OF KAWAU HANDICAP,

OPINION OF MR L. H. COLLINSON

The finish of the Kawau Handicap, the concluding event of the Manawatu Racing Club’s summer meeting, and the difference in opinion expressed as to tne judge’s placings, has proved a spirited topic of conversation in sporting circles during the past two days. Various have been the opinions expressed as to what were tlio correct placings and with a view to determmg the true position, a “Standard” representative waited upon Mr L. H. Collinson, the local sportsman, this morning when that gentleman volunteered the following statement. “I might first point out,” stated Mr Collinson, “that onlookers either on the main or stands are by no means in positions to determine the correct placings in a close finish, the width of the course at the finishing point making the task increasingly difficult where one or more of the contestants is running wido as was instanced in the case under reveiw.”

Mr Collinson here explained that it has invariably been a rule of the local club for a steward to be in the judge’s box with that official, and, at the request of Captain Gage Williams, Mr 1C J. Nathan and the speaker had been in the box with the judge and timekeeper at the time of the running of the Kawau Handicap. “It was tlie duty of the two stewards to select the fourth placing.” Mr Collinson continued, “the judge personally taking the first, second and third horses, and on the present occasion we were all of the opinion that the announced placings were correct. Tlio finish was a very close and exciting one, but Birkie unquestionably won by the barest of margins from Economist, with Birthmark a nose further away, Master O’Bourko being fully three feet behind the winner.

“I migh mention,” further explained Mr Collinson, “that my interests were centred in Master O’Rourke, and had he not followed such an erratic course that animal would in. my opinion, have won. The course is some 100 feet in width at the finishing post and Master O’Rorke had run very wide entering the straight and must have been but 25 feet from the stand fence as he passed over the lino, having veered further out as he approached the judge’s box. I was stationed directly behind the judge and in direct line with the finishing post as the four horses flashed by, and I do not hesitate to say that Birkie had the barest advantage from Economist, with Birthmark third and the animal I had backed in fourth place.”