TROTTING RACE INCIDENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22832, 17 March 1936, Page 14

TROTTING RACE INCIDENT

THIRD HORSE DECLARED WjNNER TWO DRIVERS DISQUALIFIED (From Odb Own Cokrespondjbint) SYDNEY, March 7. A racing incident, rare in Australian records, marked a meeting of the New South Wales Trotting Club at Harold, Park, near Sydney. A horse which ran third was declared the winner, and the drivers of the first and second horses were disqualified for 12 months for alleged deliberate interference. W. Townsend drove December Boy, and his brother, G. Townsend, Marie Narelle, the racebook stating that both horses were owned and trained by W, Townsend. Liberty Loan is owned and trained and was driven by E. L. M'Donald. The qualifications arose from a protest lodged by M'Donald against December Boy and Marie Narelle, who ran first and second with Liberty Loan third. After long deliberations the stewards upheld -the protest, and from the evidence tended and their own observations imposed the disqualifications. The report read: “E. L, M'Donald, driver of the third horse, Liberty Loan lodged an objection against / December Boy (W, Townsend driver) and Marie Narelle (G. Townsend, driver) who finished first and second, respectively in the Tramway Handicap. After, hearing the evidence the. stewards Upheld M'Donald’s objection and placed Liberty Loan first, December Boy, second, and Marie Narelle third. Further to the above, at the evidence tendered at the inquiry and from their observations, the stewards were satisfied that G. Townsend, driver of Marie Narelle, and W. Townsend, driver, of December Boy, were both guilty of interfering with Liberty Loan, and they imposed a disqualification of 12 months 6n the parties concerned.’’

Club officials stated that the protest on behalf of the third horse, against the winner and rtinner-up, was unprecedented at Harold Park, and the announcement caused a Stir in the betting ring. Bookmakers considered Liberty Loan’s prospect of receiving the decision remote and he was quoted at a long price in the betting on the protest. It was not until almost starting time for the succeeding event that the steward’s decision was announced. , When the “ protest upheld" flag was hoisted, consternation reigned in the betting ' ring. Fielders cheered for several minutes, many of,the spectators joining in. As M'Donald drove past in his preliminary for the next race lie was also cheered.

When Liberty Loan was beaten into third place, many of his supporters destroyed their tickets, and an official of the club reported'to the stewards-after the last race, that between 30 and 40 backers had claimed payment on Liberty Loan. They were informed that, unless they could produce evidence of their wagers payment was a matter between themselves and the bookmakers.