Roughest Race For Some Time, Said Broughton, Of H.B. Guineas

Wanganui Chronicle, 3 October 1949, Page 4

Roughest Race For Some Time, Said Broughton, Of H.B. Guineas

That it was the roughest race he had ridden in for many years was the opinion expressed by the leading New Zealand horseman, W. J. Broughton, after returning from winning the Hawke’s Bay Guineas on Golden Spa on Saturday, The opinion was echoed by several other riders in the race. After The Laird, The Dolphin, His Nibs, Recess and Lady Ella had been prominent over the first two furlongs Abbotsford (K. Nuttall) ran round the leaders and then Recess (W. Reid) moved up to head Abbotsford as the field passed the five furlongs. Several

horses appeared to meet with interference in the crowding which occurred, among them being The Laird (A. C. Messervy), Lady .Ella (K. Ford), Golden Spa, Hit or Miss (W. L. Aitken) and His Nibs (J. Campbell).

It was not till the field of 12 was well in line for the run to the judge that Golden Spa came through, running on to win with ease from The Laird, who was fifth into the straight. Hit or Miss, who could not get a clear run in the last two furlongs, was seventh.

An inquiry was held into the interference ...and it was found that the trouble was caused by the horses drawing inside positions being hard ridden to the first turn and then simultaneously easy by their riders, who did not wish to act as pacemakers. This checking of their mounts caused a general tightening up of the field and interference to several runners in their wake. A contributory factor was the hanglng-in tendency of Abbotsford. Some advice to the riders concerned on their duty in avoiding anything which would cause danger to other runners and riders was tendered by the stipendiary steward, Mr. H. B. Lorigan.