RACES STARTED BEFORE PROPER TIME.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1539, 23 October 1919, Page 16

RACES STARTED BEFORE PROPER TIME.

Only on three occasions' during the year were races started prior to the final figures being exposed on the dial of the totalisator (says Mr. P. J. Kelleher, Inspector of Totalishtors, in his report, which was recently presented to the House of Renresentatiyes).. In each case the mistake was due to a misunderstanding regarding the signal to be given. Steps were immediately taken in each case to prevent a recurrence. Clubs would be well advised to adopt the uniform practice of hoisting a signal to show that all is clear. My reason for suggesting, this course is this:' One club was ” in the habit of lower-, jng the balloon as the signal. One" day it waff very wind,, and the balloon was blown away after the' totalisator had ’ c’osed, 'but"before the’ figures had been balanced. Immediately the race started ' I declined to

allow • tfie totalisator figures to be altered; and the dividends were ;cal-. r ctflated >; an& r: paid ; out’ qfi; Stifeh figures iiP ! ' with’ ” law ' dii ’ tHe' subject.' Fortunately the club did not lo6e on the race, but it may have happened to have lost a considerable sum.