TROTTING INQUIRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24760, 7 December 1943, Page 2

TROTTING INQUIRY

DRIVER DISQUALIFIED PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Monday After the Ollivier Handicap on the second day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club's meeting on November -J.3, an inquiry was held to hear an objection to first position being awarded to Pacing Power on grounds of interference to the second horse, .Shadow Maid. After evidence had been j heard, it was resolved that, in the j opinion of the committee, Pacing Power interfered with Shadow Maid as the j horses were entering the straight, and i that the placings be reversed, that j Shadow Maid be placed first and Pacing '[ Power second, and that, in the committee's opinion, the interference was unintentional. The judicial committee met later arid held an inquiry into the driving of J. Bryce, jun. (Shadow Maid), who was reported to have interfered with Joan Conquest, Coquette and Gold Bar in the early part of the race. Bryce was fined £2O, as is provided under the rules. The club reported the results of the inquiries to the New Zealand Trotting Association, and these were considered at a meeting of the board, which was commenced on Friday morning, was continued until a late hour on Friday night and was concluded after noon on Sunday. The following statement has been issued by the Trotting Association:— "The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club reported that J. Bryce, jun., had been fined JU2O for interference in the Ollivier Handicap. As evidence before the association showed that Shadow Maid, driven by J. Bryce, jun , had interfered with Bronze Eagle in the early part of the race, and this interference with Bronze Eagle had forced Joan Conquest and Coquette to break, and later on in the race that Shadow Maid had interfered with Gold Bar, the association found that the chances of these horses had been materially affected by such interferences. The association resolved that J. Bryce, jun., be disqualified for six months from December 6, and be fined £2O. and that the horse Shadow Maid be disqualified for the Ollivier Handicap."