WAIPA RACING CLUB

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 52, Issue 3756, 15 May 1936, Page 6

WAIPA RACING CLUB

SPECIAL RACE MEETING, AN ACCEPTOR’S TROUBLES. A series of misunderstandings led to the omission from the published list of horses weighted for the Waipa Racing Club’s special race meeting tomorrow, and also from the published list of acceptors. In fact, the mistake, or omission, was not noticed until after the official race book had been published.

The explanation is this: A horse named Alby was nominated, but in transmission the name reached Te Awamutu as Alloy. The handicapper did his part in the full belief that he was handicapping the aged bay gelding owned by Mr W l . H. Maria, of Kaitaia, and known as “ the iron horse ” because of his hardihood in contesting so many races in various parts of the province. Mr Maria, knowing his horse had not been nominated, did not, of course, accept; but when the list of acceptances reached Gisborne Mr W. Goscomb, the trainer of Alby, wired asking what weight his horse had received, adding that he had already telegraphed accepting for it. The club officials replied that Alby had not been nominated, and therefore could not be accepted for. The trainer . and tlhe owner (Mr A. T. Smith) both contended that their horse had really been nominated in approved manner. Then came the investigation, and it was found that Alby had been mistaken for Alloy. Steps were taken promptly to advise all parties directly concerned, and the handicapper duly declared the weight as 7st 71b for Alby in the Woodstock Stakes Handicap, 124 furlongs. a Buyers of the race card will perhaps Ibe apt to overlook the fact that Alby is a’ starter, but notices will be posted on the course to acquaint prospective investors at the totalisator. Alby is a gelding by Psychology— Marsala, and has performed successfully in the Poverty Bay district and elsewhere, and though he is not likely to be strongly favoured at Te Awamutu on Saturday he is considered good enough to be capable of effecting a surprise.