CROWD WAS ANGRY

Chronicle (Levin), 20 August 1947, Page 6

CROWD WAS ANGRY

. — .> SATURDAY'S DEMONSTRATIONS • AT RICCARTON. i Public demonstrations on New Zea land racecourses are i'ortunately few and far between, for the control oP racing is on such a high'itlane that few excuses are provided for an outbreak oi public indignation at' apparent reversals of ♦for 111 or a lapse oii the part of an official. Tlius it was all the more reniarkable that spectators at Riccarton 011 Saturday, at the Concluding day of the C.J.C. Grand National meeting, were responsible for four angry denion'strations, three of them over wins by horses defeated 011 earlier days at the meeting, and the f'ourth over an imagined error 011 the part of the judge. Riccarton crowds are usuallv'so well beliaved that the rvproar was all the more reniarkable. but patrons did uot go to tlie extrepies which niarked a demonstration at Ellerslie nearly -0 years ago. O11 the opening day, a .Saturday, at the spring meeting, Laughing Prince won the 3ritclielson f'u])"after wliat appearod to be a false start, and the cvo\yd invaded the course, many remaining 9,11 tlie track when the next event was [being run. As a result the elub had to abapdon racing for the day, the reniaimng, §venfcs being> iam.olnthe 31onday. The first demonstration at Riccarton tui Saturday was g mild oue. It greeted tlie win of AVaae .in the Styx Hurdles. Wane had only oue.previous run as a hurdler in the Trial Hurdles on. the first day of the medting, and was nearly brought down- .when John Gav rau (lown tlie first fence." John Gay fell, brought down Tho- Grofter as well, an 1 pnt Wane hopelesslv out of the contest Wane had lieen wfell- supported by his c-onnections in his initial attempt, liut 011 Saturday lie was alloued to pay double figures. A much noiser demonstration followed the win of Fiudon, the favounte, in the Heathcote Haiulicap. Findon was favourite also for the Islington Ilandicap 011 the middle day when rid den by J. W. Winder, and after running sourly and declining to gallop on the rails, he finished fifth. With Droughton up 011 Saturday he liung in badly after entering the straight, but Broughton, who has ridden him often, was able to get the best out of I11111 under a liard ride. A storm of abuse from the "outside" patrons greeted Findon when he returned to scale, but it was oountered by

cheers and appfause from tlie Jawn, vvherc oue racegoer was heard in a moment of cpiiet to credit the change 111 form to Broughton 's ability as a rider. I11 the following race, the Lincoln Steeplechase, the judge, Mr. F. A. Jarrett, was the target for another almsive outburst from the Leger crowd, when he rightlv gave the decision to Page's Raid over Roman Ned. The Jast-named, who was tiring, jumped the last fence slightly ahead 01 Page's Raid, the odds-oipfavourite. In the run to the post Roman Ned hung in badly and lost ground by boring over to the running rail, vvhereat Ileaslev brought Page's Raid home in a straight line along the outside fence. On tlieir angle, which is past the post, tlie Leger crowd thought Roman Ned had woli.' How wrong thev were was show.n by a photograph of ttiv finish. The judge gave Page's Raid the win by lialf a length. Actually he won bv a generous length. Tlie f'ourth upheaval for the day accompanied Ivirkella's suceess in the Selwyn Handicap. I11 his previous start at the meeting he had finisheu eighth in the Paparua Handicap on the first day. On Saturday he .recorded an unusuai performance as he was badly awav and went round the entire field to win, but he was lucky, as Frances and Playtos, who finished cloes third and fourth, both had tlieir chancels ruined by interference halfwav through the race.