DON WALLA INCIDENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23274, 17 February 1939, Page 9

DON WALLA INCIDENT

DISQUALIFIED FOR YEAR OWNER AND HIS HORSE REPERCUSSIONS IN RACING Disqualification for 12 months was the penalty imposed on N. Cunningham, owner-trainer of the horse Don Walla, after a lengthy inquiry by the judicial committee of the Auckland Trotting Club, and Don Walla was disqualified for a like period. The decision, which was promulgated yesterday morning was a majority one. The finding of the committee was announced in ithe following terms:— "This ; committee finds that' Norman Cunningham is guilty of conduct calculated to injure the Auckland Trotting Club and the sport of trotting and also of wilfully failmg to perform the act lawfully ordered by the stipendiary steward and by a majority decides that he and the horse Don Walla be disqualified for a period of 12 months." Origlinal Incident The official explanation of the incident of which the committee's action is the sequel was given following the running of the first division of the Waiheke Handicap,on Saturday:— "Special permission was given for a man to go to the post with Don Walla. At the barrier, the starter (Mr. J. Gavin) refused to allow the attendant to act because he had not been officially notified and he sent N. Cunningham. the owner and driver of Don Walla, to the stipendiary steward to get permission This was immediately forthcoming biiit Cunningham elected, there and then, to withdraw the horse. "The totalisalior having been closed, no withdrawal of the moneys oil the horse could be permitted; the money had to stay on the machine. Tho club made an announcement before tho race that £3Ol, the amount of tho investments on the animal, would be returned in full." Galloping Horse Involved

However, the decision affects moro that the trotting horse, Don Walla. N. Cunningham is also the owner of the galloper. IVa Gong, who was an acceptor for th? Trial Stakes at the Waikato meeting to-morrow. Rule 353 (1) of the Rules of Racing states: — "No person whose name for the time being lawfully appears in the list of disqualifications in the Official Calendar ... of the New Zealand Trotting Conference or Association . .' . shall, whether as principal or agent, enter or rim a horse for any race either in his own name or in that ol any other person, or train any horse . , . • and every entry theretofore made by lmn, or of a horse.in which he has any interest, for a race to be run thereafter, shall be void as from the date of the 'disqualification'." * - 1 '"'./ a JOCKEYS AT WIN.TON ENGAGEMENTS FOR TO-DAY Riding engagements have been made for Winton to-day as follows: —G. Barclay, Silkwood, Sailing Lady, Waitoru. Gold Robe; V. Langford, Poniard, R. Register, Western Song: A. K. f)idhain. Spendthrift's J. Morton, Corhan;', P Sorn.tt, Vikinig. On Call; J. Dooloy, Sailing l-ady; T, J., Hoyle, King Willow; l\. K. Humphries, Hnswoll; M. Caddy. Toro Koura. Passnforni, Chirp; C. 'l'. Wilson. Bril'iant. Boa; R. J. .Maokio, Roudor; N. A. Kiitto. Sir Admiral; J. Murfitt, Vitaphone; P. J. Bojle. Boafcirmj }V. G. Horn, Kippen,,