Chamfer’s Connections Win Trotting Appeal

Wanganui Chronicle, 5 May 1950, Page 2

Chamfer’s Connections Win Trotting Appeal

CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night (PA) —The appeals of D. McFarlane, owner of Chamfer, and M. Holmes, trainer-driver, against their disqualifications for twelve months over the running of Chamfer at Addington recently were allowed by the appeal judges, Messrs. M. O. Barnett (Wellington), chairman, J. Donald (Featherston), and W. W. Massey (Auckland) today. The decision was unanimous.

The disqualifications, which were imposed after Chamfer had run second to Gough’s Pride in the Easter Handicap on the concluding day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club's Easter meeting on April 8, provided the biggest sensation In trotting for many years. McFarlane races extensively in both galloping and trotting, and M. Holmes is the most successful relnsman in the Dominion this season. This season Chamfer had recorded five wins, four seconds and one third in his ten starts leading up to the Easter meeting at Addington. It was generally expected that he .would qualify for the New Zealand Trotting Cup at Easter, but when win favourite for the Rothschild Handicap (4.27 class; two miles), in which he started Srom 36 yards, he was unplaced. He was timed privately to run the two miles from post to post in 4tnin. 13sec., but the stipendiary stewards, following an inquiry, found that he had been checked and interfered with fey Democrat, which broke at the start. For the Williams Handicap (3.34 class; one mile and five furlongs) Chamfer was favourite, starting from 24 yards. He was prominent to the straight but weakened in the run home to seventh. On the third day Chamfer was on scratch in the Eas’ter Handicap <3.32 class; one mile and five ■ furlongs), for which he was 2/3 in the betting. He had a grand trail in behind the pacemaker, Dragoman, but was boxed in once the straight was reached. Once Holmes succeeded in getting him clear he finished brilliantly, running Gough’s Pride to a head.

A section of the crowd seemed pleased when the siren sounded, indicating an inquiry, when the field returned to the birdcage. The inquiry proved protracted, the decision announcing the disqualifications of McFarlane and Holmes not being given until just before the last race.