RIOT AT MIRAMAR

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7022, 10 January 1910, Page 5

RIOT AT MIRAMAR

COIOWID RUSH THE OFFICIALS. POLICE HAVE TO INTERVENE. The meeting of tho Wellington Pony and Galloway Racing Club, which took placo at Mirauiar on Saturday last, 'was characterised by somo extraordinary scones. The Wellington Cup Handicap was won easily by Petronel. A protest ivas lodged by ,the owner of Wharekoa owing to alleged interference during tho race. Alter consideration tho 'stewards dismissed tUo objection, bub suspended Todd (tho rider of Petronel; for tho remainder of tho meeting. Tho Newtown Handicap was productivo of a disorderly occurrence, and 0110 that will not readily bo forgotten, (sirrah, who had run earlier in the day, won comfortably, and as soon as 'tho winner had passed tho judge's 'post there were howls and shouts, 'principally from tho bookmakers, that tho stewards should hold an inquiry. This they did,, and decided to disqualify &irrah and ordered the book'luakers to pay out on tho second pony, Hilly. This was an easy matter 'tor the motallit-ians, for Sirrah was better backed by tho public than Hilly. This led to further uproar, for those people who had supported Sirrah de(mandod their money back from tho ■bookmakers, but this appeal foil on 'deaf ears .and they were left lamenting. The scene of women and men gesticulating and threatening tho bookmakers ■and tho stewards of tho olub was ludicrous in tho extreme. If the Newtown Handicap was productive of soma uproar it was loft for Ithe Tramway Handicap to provide tho lolimax to the day's racing. Flying; Wind, who had ran third in the Brooklyn Handicap, was saddled up for tho final oveut, and this pony, who had the benefit of Mallowe's services in tho saddle, won by a length., Again tho bookmakers were loudest in their shouts that Flying Wind should liot get the stake, and people jumped nnd fell over the fenoe into the saddling paddock, in their eagerness to attack anybody. The stewards held a meeting and decided that the race, •should bo awarded to Paul, who had Tun second. This was tho signal for a further outburst, and the crowd gathered around somo of the club's officials and jostled and pushed them about. Tho police, of whoni there were only three on tho ground, aided the istowards to reach a place of safety, and that they escaped from such an Infuriated mob says a lot for their agility. The meeting can safely bo written down as the most disorderly tthat has over taken place in tho Welilington district.