SENSATIONAL RACING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16500, 18 November 1927, Page 4

SENSATIONAL RACING

TROTTING "THOUSAND" FIASCO 10 FINISH OUT OF 22

MELBOURNE, November 1. Tho thrilling chariot races recently exhibited in tho moving picture, " Den llur," paled into insignificance in comparison with tho sensational trotting " Thousand," run at Richmond racecourse yesterday, in the presence of about 10,000 onlookers. The excited screams of the women and the shouts of the horror-stricken men, made Up a babel of noise that has seldom, if ever, been eclipsed on a, Melbourne racecourse. No sooner had the lacitmnont occasioned by. one mishap died dbwn, than another smash occurred to re-kindle the flame of sensationalism. Horses and drivers were piled together

in a struggling mass in fall view of the onlookers, whilst all around the fallen competitors, the track was a seething mass of humanity, rushing to their aid, and dodging the many other horses which were either galloping madly around tho track or being vigorously ridden by their pilots in an lo win a- portion of the rich prize. The field of 22 horses was altogether 100 large lo compete together in one race when the stake was such a rich and alluring one. No sooner had tho race commenced than tho erratic gelding Baraiga King, from South Australia, brought about tho downfall of Murray Chimes, and caused the back marker, Auto Machine, to lose his driver. A little further on another smash occurred, and right throughout the remainder of the race sensation followed bensatiou. Dozens of men wore feverishly occupied in clearing the track to mako a. clear passage for the oncoming competitors, only 10 of the 22 original starters participating in the finish of the extraordinary' race. i

A section of tho crowd started to hoot J. James, who 'drove the heavily-backed Retreat into' second place behind the successful outsider, Red Bazili The stewards subsequently sent for James, and, acting on the evidence reluctantly given by several injured drivers' iii tho' race; and what they (the'stewards) witnessed, decided to disqualify Jnnies for a period of 12 months for alleged 'careless and negligent driving. James, who'admitted that Retreat had got completely beyond his control through having-to drive over the prostrate horse, Nimble Direct, has lodged an appeal against tho sentence. The club's surgeon, Dr. T. T. ITanly, and the ambulance officials, had an exIreincly busy time dressing tho wounds of the injured drivers, all of whom >n:ii;u.uVMisi\ escaped without having any bones 'fractured. Several of the valuable trotting horses were in rather a bad way after their falls and frenzie'i galloping,' but their ultimate complete

recovery is hoped for. A final thrjll was occasioned when the last bolting horse oir the track swerved towards the gate leading into the quiet haven of the bird cage, and collided with a bunch of horses and drivers who were awaiting their turn to quit tho scene of such u chapter of accidents.