UNUSUAL ERROR

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXVI, Issue 26, 29 December 1945, Page 8

UNUSUAL ERROR

WRONG BARRIER POSITIONS. NEW- PLYMOUTH, Dec. 26.

A peculiar incident, but one that luckily did not lend itself to any serious repercussions, occurred in the Flying Handicap at the Taranaki Jockey Club’s race meeting at New Plymouth today. Owing to an error by an oflicial nearly all - tin: horses started - from different barrier, 'positions from those they drew. svi; '' - ' Although the correct positions were posted on the number and jockeys’ hoard, the wrong card was handed to the starter and the horses were started from the wrong card. The - winner, Drambuie, drew sixth position and started from ninth, which was the outside position. The second horse, Our Joy, almost started from her correct, position, but the third horse, Mercurial, drew three and started from eight.

The consequences might have been serious had the result of the race boon different. As it was, no protest was entered by any of the owners concerned and even had one been entered the fact that the winner, Drambuie, started from the extreme outside, would have made the case hard to sustain. HORSE DISQUALIFIED TEST OF SALIVA. (Rcc. 10.10 a.m.) BOMBAY, Dec. 28. After a‘ test of the saliva of the Maharaja of Rajpipla’s Windsor Prince, the Royal Western India Turf Club disqualified the horse as the winner of the £2OOO Idar Gold Cup. The stewards also suspended Windsor Prince's trainer, E. Forsyth for a week and asked him to furnish an explanation at the end of that period. The Maharaja only arrived at Bombay from England a few hours before the stewards met last night. He had a brief interview with them. Windsor Prince won the Idar Gold Cup, over seven furlongs, by two lengths, starting at 11 to 2. Pillar To Post, a 6 to 1 chance, who has now been awarded the race, was second at an -odds-on chance, and the favourite Goodwill was third. Windsor Prince will now be ineligible to race in forthcoming classic events. The Trainers’ Association. of which Forsyth is president, only this month decided to approach the Royal Western India Turf Club stewards to discuss measures for their protection, alleging that some malevolent agency was doping their horses Five trainers have already been warned off this season as a result of the doping of their charges. In the result of the Akarana Handicap on the first day of the Auckland trotting meeting Brass Buttons was credited with finishing third. Ann Scott was third and Brass Buttons unplaced. The summer meeting of the Wellington Racing Club is to be held on January 19, 22, and 26 and nominations ferr all events, also a forfeit for the Wellington Stakes, close at 5 p.m. on Friday, January 4, with the secretary (Miss D. E. Bray).