NORTH CANTERBURY MEETING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25674, 24 October 1944, Page 6

NORTH CANTERBURY MEETING

AN UNUSUAL INCIDENT RACE RUN A SECOND TIME (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 23. The North Canterbury Racing Club's annual meeting was held at Rangiora in line weather till the last race, when heavy rain fell. The# track wa3 in good order. There was an excellent attendance, the totalisator handling £27,495, compared with £29,322 last year. The meeting provided one of the most sensational incidents recorded in racing in New Zealand for many years. The Will Memorial Handicap, advertised and carded as seven furlongs and a-half, was won by Lord Advocate by a length from All Night, with Rex Maitland half a length away, clear of Sally Lux, with Trench Law' last. When the lime, lmin 26 l-ssec, was posted it was realised that some mistake had been made, and it was then revealed that the race had been started at thn seven-furlong barrier, instead of at the seven furlongs and a-half. The stewards had a hurried meeting, and as the rules laid down that any race started from the wrong barrier had to be declared null and void and must be re-run later in the programme. it was decided to declare the race null and void and to re-run it after the concluding event. When this decision was made known, Mr G. M. Hall, the owner of Lord Advocate, told the committee that he would not start his horse again, and the trainer, H. Nurse, supported his principal in this decision. The question regarding the position in which the investors were placed then caused the committee much anxiety, but the totalisator inspector, Mr A. A. Besley, explained that the rules relating to such an incident definitely provided that when a race had to be re-run the totalisator was not reopened, but the pool remained as for the first event and no refunds could be made. This provision covered the case of Lord Advocate, whose investments were thus impounded and whose supporters had r.o claim for a refund. In other words, they supported a horse that did not start and lost their.money without a run in the re-run race, in which it was decided to .pay two place dividends, in spite of there being only four starters. Rex Maitland led into the straight from Sally Lux, All Night, and Trench Law in that order, and with half a furlong to go Rex Maitland appeared to have the race in band, especially as All Night had been disappointed in an elfort to push through on the inside of him commencing the last furlong. Rex Maitland, however, later worked out a little from the rails and All Night, with a brilliant response to his rider's vigorous riding, squeezed through right on the post to gain a head victory. Trench Law was three lengths back five lengths in front of Sally Lux. Immediately after the race a fairly large crowd of disappointed supporters of Lord Advocate invaded the secretary’s office with requests for a refund of their money. The following are the results:— High Weight Handicap, of £l5O. One mile.—3/3 Olga’s Choice. 9.3 (Thomson), 1; 2/2 Lyndon Lea, 9.7 (Barr), 2; 4/5 Rahirl, car. 9.1 (J. Campbell), 3. Scratched: Chiding, Overland Red, Double Cross. Two lengths, one length. Weld Cona was fourth. Time, lmin 42 3-ssec.

Trial Plate, of £l5O. Six furlongs.— First division: 5/5 Tikakoura. 8.7 (Cooke), 1; 19/20 My Sonnet, 8.7 (Thomson), 2; 13/11 King Burn, 8.7 (Johnson), 3. Two lengths, four lengths. Time, lmin 16sec. Second division: 2/2 Good Friend, 8.7 (Mackie), 1; 14/16 Miss Myra, 8.7 (Brodie), 2; 23/22 Simor Tor, 8.7 (Stove), 3. A head, four lengths. Time, lmin 15sec. Scratched both divisions: Peculate, Twelve Pointer. Centime finished second in the first division, but was disqualified for failing to weigh in correctly. North Canterbury Handicap, of £350. One mile and a-quarter.—2/3 Arustra, car. 7.2 (F. Campbell), 1; 3/2 Palfrey, car. 8.7 (Thlstoll), 2; 1/1 Gamble, car. 7.12 (Barrett), 3. All started. Half a length, two lengths. Justitia was fourth. Time, 2min 9sec.

View Hill Trot, of £l7O. One mile and a-half. —First division: 3/3 Sir Raymond, scr (bracketed with Shadow Rose; McLennan), 1; 17/16 Forecast, scr (Withers). 2: 6/5 Anazah, scr (Thomas), 3. Four lengths, two lengths. Time, 3min 28 4-ssec. Second division: 1/1 Emulus, scr (Tatterson). 1: 8/7 Navy Queen, scr (Yeatman), 2; 2/2 Loyal Chief, scr (Cook), 3. Three lengths, 10 lengths. Time, 3min 21 2-ssec. Scratched, both divisions: Orient Girl, Jack's Son.

Ilororata Handicap, of £l5O. Six furlongs.—2/2 Falconbridge, car. 7.8 (Mackie), 1; 3/3 Burberry, car. 8.7 (McDonald), 2; 8/8 Dash o’ Dink, car. 8.111 (Ridgway), 3. Scratched: Lyndon Lea, Prince Lcighon, Air Lord, Saint Joachim. Baffling, Ration. Half a length, a length. Night Believer was fourth. Time, lmin 14 l-ssec. Will Memorial Handicap, of £250. Seven furlongs.—l/2 All Night, car. 8.4 (Mackie), 1; 4/4 Rex Maitland, car. 7.41 (McDonald). 2: 5/5 Trench Law, car. 7.5 (St'ove). 3. All started. A head, three lengths. Sally Lux was fourth. Time, lmin 32 3-ssec. Amborley Handicap, or £l5O. Seven furlongs.—6/6 Prince Leighon. car. 7.11 (McDonald). 1: 2/2 Chicago, car. 7.7 (Nuttall), 2; 1/3 Authentic (Brodie), 3. Scratched: Weld Cona. Olga’s Choice. Rahlri, Twelve Pointer. Ration. Three lengths, a length.. Cinderella was fourth. Time, lmin 27 2-ssec. ■ _ Rangiora Handicap Trot, of £l7O. One mile and a-quarter.—l/1 Navy Queen, scr (Yeatman), 1; 3/3 Rosie Grattan, 12yds bhd (Thomas), 2: 6/6 Forecast, scr (Withers). 3. Scratched: Emulus. Final Fancy. Great Artist, Sir Raymond, Shadow Rose. Lady Spray. Six lengths, six lengths. Rey Potts was fourth. Time, 2min 51 2-ssec.

ARUSTRA’S DECISIVE WIN

(Special) CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 23. In the North Canterbury Handicap the usual tactics were followed with Gamble, who was In front early and led to the straight, where he tired. Arustra and Pelfrey going past him, with Arustra winning decisively. Arustra was due for success after two minor placings. Lyndon Lea set out to lead all the way in the High Weight Handicap, but ne tired in the straight, Olga’s Choice beating hirii comfortably. Rahiri was never far away and finshed well for third, followed by the favourite, Weld Cona, who was always well placed. Tikakoura drew out from King Burn at the home turn in the first division of the Trial Plate and won easily. Centime, after beginning well, dropped back, but came with a fast finishing run to get second, while My Sonnet cut King Burn out of third. Centime’s rider, K. Nuttall, weighed in 61b short, and Centime lost second place.. -Nuttall was fined .£2, the trouble having been caused by his omission to put on his lead-weighted waistcoat. Ration soon headed Miss Myra in the second division, but he tired in the straight, where Good Friend went on to beat Miss Myra after a good tussle. Good Friend gave F. Christmas his first win as a trainer since early last season. The View Hill Trot was run in divisions. Rivette led for a long way in the first but collapsed in the straight. Sir Raymond staying too well for the others. Emulous led all the way in the second division, and never looked like being beaten, Navy Queen being the only opponent to get near her at the finish. In Chancery set the pace to the straight in the Hororata Handicap, where she collapsed. Falconbridge then took charge, while Burberry came from a long way back to get second, beating Dash o’ Dink, who had been handy all the way. Chicago was first out in the Amberley Handicap, but Prince Leighon soon ran past him, and they led a procession to the finish, Prince Leighon winning easily. Air Lord dropped out at the straight entrance, and Authentic stayed too well for the rest of the field. Prince Leighon was F Christmas’s second winner. Rivette again set the pace from the start of the Rangiora Trot, but was done with five furlongs from home, when Navy Queen took charge and beat Rosie Grattan comfortably, with Forecast following after another gap.