PLACINGS ALTERED

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30957, 13 January 1966, Page 4

PLACINGS ALTERED

(N.Z. Press Association) GREYMOUTH. After the County Handicap at Reefton yesterday, an objection was lodged by Mr M. F. Billington. the part-owner and trainer of Morris Francis, who alleged that his horse had received interference from General Gilbert in the final furlong. The inquiry was held under rules 285 and 326 and the right to charge D. N. Hadfield, the rider of General Gilbert, with causing interference was reserved by the stipendiary steward. After hearing evidence from C. T. Wilson, the rider of Morris Francis, Mr Billington, D. N. Hadfield, and Mr J. L. Barr, part-owner and trainer of General Gilbert, and hearing a statement from the stipendiary steward, the committee found that intereference had taken place when Hadfield had allowed his mount to shift ground and come in contact with Morris Francis, causing Wilson to have to check. They ordered that the placings be altered to Morris Francis first and General Gilbert second. Hadfield was charged and fined £l5. Before the Rotokohu Trot. T. K. Rooney, the trainer of False Ways, was fined £lO for failing to withdraw his horse from the meeting. False Ways, an unqualified horse, was ineligible to start. After the running of the same race an inquiry was held into the racing manners of Lachlan. It was decided to declare Lachlan ineligible to start at any totalisator meeting uo to and including February 28. After the running of the Mawheraiti Handicap Trot, W. N. Forsyth, driver of Platinum I Son. charged with careless driving, had his horseman’s licence suspended until January 26. Ronnie Bee <K. J. Daly) tangled and fell for no apparent reason at the end of half a furlong. Horse and driver were not injured. Jink broke with about a halfmile to run. This was caused by a man flagging the horses away from Ronnie Bee which was lying prostrate on the track.