RACING INQUIRY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 20, 20 December 1932, Page 10

RACING INQUIRY

DISQUALIFICATIONS IMPOSED. H. GRAY INCLUDED. AUCKLAND, Dec. 19. Seven disqualifications were imposed by tho judicial committee ol : the Dargaville Racing Club as a result ol a further inquiry into the running of the President’s Handicap at Dargavilie on December 3.

Following are the terms of the disqualifications ;

The horse Bronze Tray—Three years.

R. A. Powell, of Dargaville, owner of Bronze Tray—Three years. C. R. Poweh, of Whangarei, brother of R. A. Powell —Three years.

Hector Gray, of Takaniiji, Trainer — Three years.

A. G. Murray, jockey-—Two years. It. E. A. Horne, jockey—One year. L. Clifford, apprentice jockey—One year.

the ground of the disqualifications was that the persons named were guilty of corrupt and fraudulent practice by conspiring to assist the horse Tetrarchato to win the President’s Handicap. The President’s Handicap carried a stake of £125 and was run over a distance of nine furlongs. It resulted as follows :

4 W. H. Maria’s Alloy, 8.9 (0. W. Mclnallv) 1 1 C. M. Emanuel’s Tetrarchate, 7.0 (H. Gilmer) 2 5 H. Swaffield’s Ha nnibal, 7.0 (Horne) 3

Also started; 3 R. A. Powell’s Bronze Tray, 9.5 (A. G. Murray); 2 G. Hodgson’s Thespis, 7.4, car. 7.0 (L. Clifford). Won by half a length, with a. length between second and third. Time, 2min. 1 4-ssec. CURIOUSLY-RUN RACE. Tlio race was one of the most curious seen on an Auckland course for a long time, and the only excitement in the contest was when Alloy ran past the odds-on favourite Tetrarchate in the straight and heat him home by lra.if a length. From the start Tetrarchate set a slow pace, and along the back was about two lengths ahead of Alloy, with Thespis, Hannibal nnd Bronze Trayfollowing at intervals. Tlio field was spread out for a surprising distance considering the slow pace that ‘ was made, and Tetrarchate appeared certain to win when he came into the straight a good two lengths clear of Alloy and Hannibal, who swung wide round the turn. However, Tetrarchate finished weakly in the circumstances and Alloy beat him comfortably at the end. Hannibal was a length awa.y third, with Thespis and Bronze Tray following. The value of the form in the race may lie gauged from the fact that the nine furlongs took 2min. 1 4-ssee., whereas Lady Vane won a mile race la.ter in the day in ltnin. 41 l-ssec. Gay Idea, an acceptor for the Auckland Cup, will now be unable to start ns she is owned by Mrs M. AV. Powell, wife of C. R. Powell. INQUHtY OPENED.

Following tho running of the President’s Handicap the deputy-stipendiary steward, Mr R. G. Hosking, of VVliangarei, instituted an inquiry by the judicial committee of the club. Tlio finding of the judicial committee was that it was not satisfied with the running of Bronze Tray and Thespis, and after hearing the evidence of tlve jockeys concerned, A. G. Murray and L. Clifford, also of the trainers, M. Stack and H. Gray, and also of R. A. Powell, owner of Bronze Tray, was of opinion that Powell committed an error of judgment in allowing his horse to run, knowing before the race that it was not in a fit state to do itself justice and to give the public a failrun for its money. . . The committee was also of opinion that on tire evidence adduced Clifford was not fit to ride in a race, and that his license should be reviewed by the district committee.

FURTHEtt INVESTIGATION.

The report from the Dargaville Racing Club concerning tho inquiry was considered by the Auckland Racing Conference last Monday. The district committee decided to refer the report back to the Dargaville Racing Club for further investigation, with a request that it should report at an early date.

The judicial committee of tire Dargaville Racing Club met at Dargaville last Tuesdav and Wednesday, and held its final sitting in Auckland. All tho persons disqualified were present, also Mr R. G. Hosking, deputy-sti-pendiary steward, and Mr F. Cullen, racecourse detective. Mr Cullen presented to tho committee evidence which lie had collected. Many witnesses were heard, including Mr C. M. Emanuel, owner of Tetrarchate; It. Hall, trainer of Hannibal; 0. W. Mclnallv, rider of Alloy; H. Gilmer, rider of Tetrarchate;

and E. Manson, F. T. Bentley and J. F. Fergus, jockeys. Bronze Tray is a six-yc:tr-old gelding by. Tea Tray from Florent. He won the Avondale Cup on October lo and tho Dargaville Cup on December 1, and was an acceptor tor the Auckland Cup, to be run at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. R. A. Powell, owner of Bronze Tray, is a butcher at Dargaville. C. R. Powell is an hotelkeeper at TVhangarei. H. Gray', formerly tire loading jockey in New Zealand, started as a trainer at Takanini this season, and at Te Awamutu last Saturday he led in three winners—On Top, Weatherwise, and Thespis. A. G. Murray and R. Horno are lightweight jockeys. Horno won the Auckland Cup >n Motor© in 1930, and was to have ridden Bronze Tray in this year’s race. L. Clifford is apprenticed to H. Gray.