BATTERY USED.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17006, 20 January 1927, Page 2

BATTERY USED.

RACING SENSATION. FOUR LIFE DISQUALIFICATIONS. A sensation wafcaused at the Ascot races last week, when the stewards discovered an electric battery. As a result three persons and the well■known. pony Prince Off a were disqualified for life. . Prince Offa ran in the first division of the Ascot Handicap. When betting opened on the event he was at 6 to 1, but as very little money came for him he eased a couple of points. Then the stable commissioners commenced to operate, and so heavily was the gelding supported that at ilagfaii he was third favourite at ;. to 1, alter having touched a quotation a point shorter. , . Usually Prince Offa is a slow beginner, but this time he was first to show out, and was clear or his opponents after a furlong had been covered. , Near the half-mile, however, lie dropped back about three lengths as a result of slight interference caused by Australian Light and Cabochon, each of which moved up smartly on the outside. Entering the straight behind the pair, Prince Offa ran out wide, but finished in good style, only to be beaten narrowly into fourth place.

Observant Steward. When the horses returned to the weighing enclosure. J. Donohue, one of the stipendiary stewards, isi alleged to have noticed J. Martin (rider ol Prince Offa) hand something to W. Deaves. the gelding's attendant. The stewards lost no lime in ordering both Martin and Deaves into their room. The Officials .commenced to search Deaves, who at first resisted. On the police being called, however. Deaves was searched, and he pulled from his right-hand trouser pocket a small electric battery and gave it to one of the officials. Deaves is alleged to have said when handing the instrument over: "Martin did not give this to me." The stewards at once opened an inquiry into the case, at the conclusion of which they issued the following report:— "An inquiry was held into the alleged use of an electric battery on Prince Offa in the first division of the Ascot Handicap. After hearing the evidence of A. G. Craft (owner), \V. Deaves (who saddled the horse'), and James Martin (rider), the stewards were satisfied that the battery had been used and they decided to disqualify A. G. Craft, W. Leaves, J. Martin, and the gelding for life." The battery is about two and a half inches long and an inch and a half wide. At one end it has two brass pins, and around the instrument was wound a piece of elastic tape with a hole in the end, through which a person could place his thumb. To use the battery one has only to place it in the palm of the hand and bring the two brass - pins in contact with a horse, thus completing a circuit and giving the animal a shock. A seven-year-old gelding by King Offa (imp.) from Lady Douachie, Prince' Offa had been a good stake winner for Craft.

Since the beginning of 1925 he had won nine, races, "and was placed on 23 other occasions. • The gelding's last win was at Ascot on December 8, when ridden by L; • Shell. At his.'.last'three or four outings, however,. Prince Offa was ridden by R. Craft,- a son of A; G. Craft, and so well did he shape in the hands of the inexperienced lad that the public were waiting for a stronger rider to have the mount before supporting the gelding. Rarely Discovered. The discovery of electric batteries is very rare in Australia, as the instruments are so small that it is hard to detect them. At Adelaide recently, however, one was found. The previous case in Sydney was about eight or ten years ago, when a battery was discovered on a jockey at an unregistered meeting. On this occasion the instrument was attached to the lad's body, and came into contact with the horse through the spurs. The battery was examined by many officials at the racecourse. Several touched the two points and received shocks from the tiny contrivance. "A shock from this would go right through a horse," said one man. Finally the battery was handed over to Detective-Sergeants Keogh and Barrett, of police headquarters. The-remarkable power of. the bat'tery is obtained by very fine wound induction coils, somewhat similar to those on a medical battery. In view of its essential smallness, its manufacture is a job for an expert.