DAY OF INCIDENT

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21036, 12 February 1940, Page 9

DAY OF INCIDENT

RACING AT ROTORUA DEMONSTRATION BY CROWD JUDGE ALTERS PLACINGS (By “Martian”) Several factors combined on Saturday to mar the opening day of the Rotorua Racing Club's fixture at Arawa Park. After the promise of fine weather in the morning rain fell in varying intensity for tne greater part of the programme making for most unpleasant conditions, the judge's placings were twice the subject of a demonstration on the part of the crowd, and the starter, Mr M. Crimmins, experienced difficulty with certain horses at the start, in several instances horses breaking through the tapes and in two cases galloping the full distance before being pulled up. While parading for the fiTst race Wapaugh, in negotiating the bend out of the straignt. wrenched a joint and was withdrawn. In the second, the Waimangu Stakes, British Isles and Douglas Hyde were left, the latter whipping round and running off the course. In the seventh event, the Arawa Park Stakes, Silveyor, Paymaster and Gold Money Song, broke through the tapes and went some distance before being pulled up, Silveyor, carrying on right to the stands before she was got under control. In the concluding event the well-supported Aero King similarly misbehaved, and took no part in the race. It was in the Hot Springs Handicap that the first demonstration occurred, it being the worst in the district for some time. When the numbers were hoisted, the judge, Mr C. H. Washer, placed No. 1 (Hunter’s Rose), No. 3 (Little Ruse), No. 7 (Kakarere), and No. 8 (Gazeful) in that order but as No. 2, Trig Station, appeared to have finished third and Kakarere no closer than fifth there was a pronounced demonstration by a big section that surged round the rail of the birdcage, booing and calling for the inclusion of Trig Station. Placings Amended It was not for some minutes later when the stipendiary steward visited the judge’s box that the frame was lowered and the amended placings hoisted showing Hunter’s Rose, first, Little Ruse, second, Trig Station, third and Gazeful, fourth, that the demonstration died down. In the seventh race, in which there was a keen tussle between the second, third and fourth horses, the judge decided in favour of No. 15 (Surpai), No. 13 (Paymaster), No. 8 (Valsome) and No. 5 (Fairfield). This did not meet with the approval of a section who considered that No. 5 (Fairfield) should have been placed among the first three. However, from the Press Stand, the judge’s placings appeared to be correct. Earlier in the day when the placings in the Cup event were hoisted No. la (Greek Queen) was shown as finishing second, this being later altered to No. 1 (King Rey). Greek Queen actually finished fifth. The programme lagged behind early and the last race was over half an hour late in starting.