PLACINGS REVERSED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19885, 11 March 1939, Page 10

PLACINGS REVERSED

SPORTING GIFT INCIDENT STEWARD UPHELD (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The judges of the New Zealand Racing Conference, Messrs. Eric L. Riddiford, H. P. F. Blundcll and W. E. Leicester, have allowed the appeal of Mr. B. N. Sandilands, stipendiary steward, against the decision of the Wanganui District Committee in dismissing the appeal by J. Manuel, owner of Sporting Gift, against the decision of the judicial committee of the Ashhurst-Pohangina Racing Club that the positions stand, when the apprenticeship jockey, J. Chaplin, rider of Gay Chou in the Raumai Handicap, run on January 23, was charged by the stipendiary steward with interference and a breach of Rule 239. The stipendiary steward further asked that, in view of such interference, the judge's placings be reversed and that Sporting Gift be placed first and Gay Chou second. "Having heard the evidence, we are ot the opinion that it has been established that interference on the part oi Gay Chou prevented Sporting Gifl from winning the Raumai Handicap and that-, accordingly, the positions should be reversed," the judgment stated. "Further, the evidence leaving us in a state of doubt as to whether the riding of the jockey, J. Chapli.i, was deliberately foul-riding, we extend to him the benefit of such doubt."