STARTER'S ORDEAL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19697, 1 August 1938, Page 9

STARTER'S ORDEAL

SEQUEL TO ACCIDENT

FACINC SILENT CROWDS

TRIBUTE PROM SPORTSMEN

The standing which Mr. Leo Murray, starter to the Poverty Bay Turf Club and other district racing organisations, has gained with the patrons: of the turf was exemplified o.i Saturday when, as the result of a mishap at the barrier in the Farewell Handicap, two out ol" the three contestants lost all chance of filling first place.

As one horse got away, leaving the iother two standing for a few moments, many spectators in the stands concluded ithat a false start had been made, but this misapprehension was removed when the other two got under way and set out after the leader. There was a mild demonstration by disappointed bettors as the three horses returned ",o the bird-cage, but this was countered by applause from those who recognised that only an accident could have produced the spectacle just witnessed. The crowd in the stands and round the 'bird-cage did '.tot disperse after the horses were unsaddled, and it was evident to many that when the starter, Mr. Murray, returned from the barrier lie would be given a hostile reception by a section of the crowd. No one could have envied the official his lone return to the bird-cage, in the face of the silent waiting crowd. But the denouement was unexpected to most of those present, for as soon as an attempt was made to "boo" the starter, a storm of reassuring handclapping drowned out the demonstrators.

As a sequel to the mishap at the start of the race, the owner of one horse lodged a protest immediately aftsr the race, but he subsequently withdrew the protest on learning thai it was his horse which had thrown away its own chances and had also spoiled any the third runner might have had.