WAIKATO HUNT ECHO

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 413, 3 November 1930, Page 4

WAIKATO HUNT ECHO

WESTBROKE DISQUALIFIED NO T A ”Al AI DEN” STEEPLE- ' CHASER. (Special to "Chronicle.") AUCKLAND, Noy. 1. An interesting story, embodying an element of romance in the buying and selling of horses, was related at a meeting of the committee of the Waikato I Hunt Club at Cambridge yesterday, when it was decided to disqualify Wc.Htbroke, who won the Maiden Hunters’ Steeplechase at last Al on day’s races. The winning stake, £llO, was awarded to Cullgie, who finished second, and second money, £25, to Alarit i, third, while Spalupin, who finished fourth, takes third money, £l5. The Alaiden Hunters’ Steeplechase was for qualified hunters who had never won a race of any description, excepting point-to-point races. Westbroke. an aged gelding by Solferino from Halina, owned by Air A. H. Storey, of Te Awamutu, had the minimum weight,; 11.0, and, ridden by Air F. Baker, of Cambridge, won comfortably. He was fifth favourite. It w r as not until after the races that, the discovery was made that Westbroke far from being eligible for the Maiden Hunters’ Steeplechase, had in the early part of his career won no fewer than five races. Westbroke is now nine years old an 1 Monday’s appearance was the first

he had made on a racecourse since 1926. As a three-year-old in the 1924-25 season he won the Puhi Maiden Plate at Otaki, the Carterton Hack Handicap, the Flying Hack Handicap at Woodville, and the Tiraumea Hack Handicap at Pahiatua. and in the following season he dead-heated with Plain Sailing in the Trial Plate at Trentham. At thus time he was owned by the Late Air C. E. Elgar, of Featherston. Tho evidence given at yesterday’s meeting by Air Storey showed that the horse had apparently experienced many vicissitudes since he raced in 1926. Air Storey stated that he bought Westbroke as a hack for £l5 in November, 1929. when he was informed of his breeding and that the horse had never won a race, Westbroke had previously been offered for sale at auction at Ohaupo, when his then owner stated that he was a “dud.” An offer of £6 was refused and the owner offered him to a friend, who would not buy, for £B. Formal Protest Upheld. Air Storey said he did not know that Westbroke had previously won a race until Alr W. Stopford, secretary of the Waikato Hunt Club, telephoned to him last Thursday night, three days after the race, saying that the horse was a winner and therefore, was not eligible for the Alaiden Hunter’s Steeplechase. Tho committee, having heard this evidence, expressed itself as being perfectly satisfied that Air Storey had no knowledge of Westbroke having won previously, but informed him that the onus was on the owner when nominating a horse to be sure on such a point. The formal protest lodged by Mr H. .Tones, of Cambridge, the, owner of Cullgie, was upheld and the placing* altered. Those present at the meeting wore Messrs Wynn Brown, N. Banks and R. Hannon. ‘ Westbroke is a brother to Solferite, who won tho Winter Cup at, Riccarton in 1927, while Best Friend, who won several races last season, is a half brother.