STARTER CRITICISED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19667, 27 June 1938, Page 10

STARTER CRITICISED

BARRIER POSITION CASE OF TRADESMAN Whether a starter should be permitted to place a horse on the extreme outside of the field, irrespective of the position ho drew, was a question raised by Mr. H. T. Reilly at a meeting of the Hamilton branch of the New Zealand Owners, Breeders and Traitiers’ Association. Mr. Reilly stated that at . the last meeting of the Waikato Racing Club Tradesman had been placed on the outside of the field on the second day immediately the field began lo line up. On the first day, Tradesman had given trouble, and was placed on the outside, but on the second occasion no opportunity was given him to take up his correct position. Mr. W. R. Shattock, who presided, took strong exception to the .statement ol' the starter that in future he was going Lo place Tradesman on the outside without any option. He intimated his intention to bring up the matter at the annual conference of the association.

In a case such as that under review, a horse likely 'to lie troublesome at the barrier should .be given the alternative of standing behind the field on the rails, said 'Mr. Reilly. Tradesman was not a vicious horse and never kicked, but he sometimes backed into other horses. Several speakers 'were of the opinion that there ‘were far worse horses than Tradesman who were given the opportunity of 'going into the barrier in the position they had drawn.