FARCICAL RACE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 726, 27 July 1929, Page 13

FARCICAL RACE

FABRIANO FINISHES ALONE IN STEEPLES • HOW HANDY GOT SECOND (Special to THE SUN) TIMARU, Friday. The race for the South Canterbury Steeples at Washdyke this afternoon developed into a farce. At the first fence Taramoa lost his rider and Oriflamb ran off. Oriflamb was sent at the fence again and jumped it well enough, but at the first of the double he baulked twice and just managed to climb over at the third attempt. At the second of the double he again baulked and dislodged his rider (A. Peart), much to the crowd’s delight. By this time only Fabriano and Handy were left in the contest, but at the second to last fence Handy fell heavily and T abriano came oil to win easing up by two furlongs. The Chase Was On And now the fun started. B P Brooker, owner of Handy, realising that his horse only had to jump the last fence to earn £4O, ran across the middle of the course in an endeavour to capture him, but Handy soon escaped his pursuers and galloped into a paddock adjoining the racecourse. However, Brooker, who was a noted gentleman rider in his day, soon ran the runaway to earth, and mounting the North Island gelding, sent him at the last obstacle, which Handy jumped perfectly and came on to gain second money amid great enthusiasm. On his return to the scales Brooker dipped his hat to the crowd and received a great ovation, which lasted several minutes.

C. McGovern, of Hastings, the original rider of Handy, had an arm badly broken as a result of his fall.