NOISY PROTEST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22616, 2 January 1937, Page 8

NOISY PROTEST

EELERSLIE INCIDENT PLACINGS IN DERBY SOME DISGRUNTLED BETTORS DEMONSTRATION AGAINST JUDGE A noisy protest by a section of the crowd was made against the judge's placings in the Great Northern Derby ;i t the Auckland Racing Club's Summer Meeting at Ellerslie yesterday. The demonstrators were evidently of the opinion that Martarn, who finished on the extreme outside under the judge's box, and was not placed in the first four, had either won or been in a place. A crowd collected round the judge's box, jeering the decision with hoots and also counting out the official. Some were inclined to prolong the demonstration even when the horses went out for the next race, but they were not numerous and soon desisted. Only One to Decide The winner Essex finished close to the inside rail, with Trench Fight, Quadroon, Cerne Abbas and Martara spread right across the course. The judge was actually the only one able to decide accurately. The position of the horses made it difficult for anyone who was on an angle to fix the placings with accuracy. However, the great majority of those on the members' stand concurred with the judge's placings and the demonstration came as a surprise to them. On the other hand some patrons of the main stand and the lawn enclosure, together with others located inside the track, evidently thought that Martara, who ran wide for some distance in the straight, had been overlooked by the judge. Importance ol Angle Immediately the numbers went up there was some booing, which was renewed and gained in volume when the horses returned to the birdcage, and continued while the ceremony of decorating the winner with the blue ribbon was being performed. Cries of " Number Six," " What about Martara," went up, and the demonstrators converged on the judge's box, accompanied by others who were curious to ascertain the cause of the commotion. Demonstrations have been rare on Auckland courses, and it is some years since there was such an occurrence at Ellerslie. The explanation of the affair lies in the angle from which the finish was viewed, as it would be likely that people in a certain line of sight would think that Martara had won.