TROTTING SENSATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23703, 10 January 1939, Page 7

TROTTING SENSATION

SMASH AT GREYMOUTH ONLY THREE HORSES FINISH DRIVERS ESCAPE INJURY A sensational accident occurred in the fifth race—the Victoria Park Handicap—at the second day of the Oreymouth Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday. as a result of which only three horses of the field of 11 were able to finish. When nine horses fell there was a jumble of sulkies and drivers piled together, but no one was seriously injured. , . The accident was caused through Rewai. which was running second on the rails, falling and bringing down Passport. The two horses in turn were responsible for the upset of the rest of the field, with the exception of the leader. Storm Signal, and Devotion, which was running outside of Rewai.

Hopeless Confusion

There was hopeless confusion at the point on the four-furlong track about two furlongs from the winning post, but as there was another circuit to complete Storm Signal and Devotion had difficulty in negotiating the accident area in, order to complete the journey. The back horses had no chance of avoiding the two that fell, as the held was well bunched. More excitement was caused when G. Mouritz. who was not in the race, took Worthy Need in hand and completed the journey some minutes after the two other placed horses had finished. As a result of his action, the horse was declared placed. The dividend of Storm Signal, which was bracketed with Worthy Need, was substantially increased, and the bracket paid a better nrice for a place than did Devotion. the winner, for a win Auckland Accident

With the exception of an accident at Auckland about 1927. when a pacer called Amaris. which was well known as a “shadow jumper.” adopted his weakness in the concluding race on the first day of the Christmas meeting and brought down the whole field, this accident on Saturday was probably the worst from the investors’ point of view that has occurred in the history of trotting in the Dominion. Mr J. S. Shaw, who acted as stipendiary steward at Greymouth. was the driver of Amaris in the Auckland accident. On that occasion two horses Hugh Coronado and First Carbine, collided at the start, and their sulky wheels locked, with the result that before long they were hopelessly out of the race, and when they got under way were jogged along two furlongs behind the field Several Hurt

With a round to go, and almost in front of the judge’s box. Aramis jumped and fell, bringing 14 or 15 others down. Sulkies, horses, and drivers were strewn about, some landing over the inside railing. Several drivers were injured, and Mr Shaw had his collarbone and nose broken and one shoulder dislocated This gave the two “back-markers,’ First Carbine and Hugh Coronado, the race to themselves, and thev finished first and second respectively. Another of the horses that fell was driven home for third money. In Saturday’s accident L. Motz the driver of Rhinegold, had his hip bruised J. Bryce jun, (Rewai) C. Francis (Palomar) suffered shock, but both quickly recovered, and Bryce drove the winner Super Jack in the seventh race