RIOT IS CAUSED BY FALSE START.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19036, 3 April 1930, Page 3

RIOT IS CAUSED BY FALSE START.

BACKERS SET FIRE TO BOOTHS AND STANDS.

A violent riot broke out suddenly during the first race at the Vincennes track, France, one afternoon last month, owing to nine of the horses having to run a race a second time after a false start which carried them almost to the finish. In the twinkling of an eye a crov/d of almost 5000 angry backers set fire to the betting booths, and then wvarrred on to the track and into the paddock and smashed up everything they could lav their hands on. The fifty foot and mounted policemen on duty along the track were buried uAder a storm of flying chairs, sticks and bottles, and the mounted men were unhorsed.' When fire brigades and lorry-loads of policemen arrived a few minutes Liter in answer to riot calls, the great racing establishment was ablaze in a score of places. The terrified racing commissioners were barricading themselves in their

boxes; the frightened horses in the stables were neighing shrilly; women in the tribunes were screaming, and the rioters were piling up chairs and other equipment to make more bonfires. A long row of fifteen betting and selling booths in the field soon had all their contents of tickets and money a smouldering mass of ruin; hundreds of windows were smashed, and even the starting-gates were blazing. At 3 p.m. M. Chiappe, Paris Prefect of Police, arrived on the scene to direct the police force and try to restore order. At his demand the commissioners suspended the other races and tried to soothe the mob by announcing that the money paid for admission tickets would be reimbursed.

The trouble started at the beginning of the first race, the Prix du Douvres. Five of the fourteen horses running failed to get away in good order. The starter heistated a moment in dropping his flag, thereby annulling the start, and by this time nine of the horses, including some of the favourites, were far down the trade and going at high speed, the jockeys not knowing that the race was off.

As the nine horses turned into the home stretch a furious cry of “Return our money! ” arose from the horde of backers. In spite of these protests the race was re-run, amid a tremendous hubbub. When the result was anounced. there

was an immediate explosion of wrath, and as the horses were led toward the scales another cry of “Return our money” burst out from the crowd, who made a dash for the grandstand. The reign of terror lasted for almost half an hour.