DRIVER FINED

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1026, 17 July 1930, Page 15

DRIVER FINED

Created an Opening INCIDENT IN NEW SOUTH WALES For creating an opening in the second division of the President's Unhoppled Handicap, whereby E. L. McDonald, driver of Amazing Don, was enabled to move up on the rails instead of going round, G. A. Noble, driver of Calm Voyage, was fined £2 by the stipendiary stewards acting at the meeting of the New South Wales Trotting Club recently. Amazing Don would probably have won the race in any circumstances, but in the second lap he was materially assisted by the opening on the rails through which he took up a position behind the pacemaker, Sen Sen, with the minimum of effort. Stewards in charge of trotting cannot be too stringent regarding the rule in question, says a Sydney writer. Every incident in a race cannot be witnessed, but when offenders are noticed action should follow. An incident during the running of the first division of the Flying Handicap at the same meeting was responsible for adverse comment in the public stand, which may have been readily allayed had there been an inquiry. In a Pocket Cleve Lynn, who was an odds on favourite for the race, had become hemmed in by New Park, who was leading, and Honest Tim, who was slightly more than half a length behind him on the outside of Cleve Bynn. It was clear that unless an opening occurred Cleve Lynn would have little chance of winning. Honest Tim dropped back beaten, but just as Cleve Lynn moved forward Hankey, who had come up smartly, took Honest Tim’s place, and the position was just as bad. By this time the leaders were within a furlong and a-half from the winning post, and backers of the favourite were becoming anxious. Then Hankey, no doubt under pressure, ran sufficiently wide to allow Cleve Lynn through, and the issue was placed beyond doubt in a few strides.