START OR NO START?

NZ Truth, Issue 105, 22 June 1907, Page 2

START OR NO START?

There has 'bocti. litigation m South Australia over the question as to whether, once the starter having cried "go," it is an unquestionable start m a race. ' The starter at Adelaide sent the field away With the ' Usual notification, but, haVing discovered that one horse had its head m front of the harrier, sihout&d after the flying field, "Come back." As might have been expected, his voice was tost to those that had streaked away for 'the winning post, xtphich was reached firsli 'by a horse called Carl Dout. The ownors of Catl Dout then claimed the stakes, and Tattersall's Club, which was running the race (nesting, refused to acknowledge the Carl Dour claim, with the result that' litigation ensued. The defence was that ihe starter had sole power to declare "start" or "no start," ami, further, that as one horse had its ihead over the line, the start was void ; also the stewards had ordered the race to be rUtt over again, and, finally, only the judge was authorised to declare what horse had w,ori. After several days'ljudicial jawing, and a>t consideratble expense to both parties to the suit, Mr Justice Homberg gave ju'damen't. He found that the barrier, was raised, the starter had given ilie word to. go, hut had called but "Come back." As .the plaintiffs agrded, when signing the nomination papers, to he bound by. the decision of the stewards, and finality rested with them, plaintiff must be bound by their decision. He therefore dismissed the action, With costs.— Sydney Suortsman.