A RACING PROTEST.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 339, 13 February 1902, Page 3

A RACING PROTEST.

At the meeting of the Gisborne Racing Club yesterday, in tho Park Stakes, which was won by The Miner, a protest was laid by Mr J. A. Harding, owner of Tauhei, the second horse, on the ground of inconsistent running. Tho matter formed the subject of a lengthy enquiry. Mr Harding said he made the complaint in tho interest of racing. Ho considered that The Miner had not been run out in the race in the morning, as the horse was never prominent at any time during tho contest. There was the question that the race was a furlong longer, but the stewards being racing men would know whether that would make any difference. He brought the matter before them because he considered it was one of those cases where an enquiry should be made.

Tho question of the timo of the race was discussed, a steward stating that the Park Stakes, which was won by The Miner, was run in faster time than the first race.

Mr Harding, who was the official timekeeper, said that he did not wish to give the time of the race, seeing that he made the complaint.

Mr Desßarres said tho race was one of she fastest he had seen run in the Bay for the distance.

The Chairman, Mr Hepburn, said that ho took the time of the two races, and did not think that the race was a particularly fast one. He made tho time of the sixfurlong race 1.17 2-5, and the seven fur-

longs 1.32]. Mr Newman did not think the protest should be sustained. It had been his experience that it was impossible to get a horse to run two races alike. Horses wero not machines. As far as he could see it was an honestly run race. In the Park Stakes Tauhei had never got on her legs properly, and it may have been that in the other race The Miner did not get on his legs properly. It was a hard thing to disqualify a man for inconsistent running. One might take three horses out in the morning and get a good trial out of them, and in the afternoon they would not repeat it. His own horse, A.8.N., had run a sixfurlong race badly and the same day had won a seven-furlong race, and he was certainly a trier in both cases. He would have felt it hard if he had been disqualified. The owner of The Miner stated that the horse had been run out upon each occasion. The Miner was not good over six furlongs, and had only won one race over that distance.

Sceats, the rider of The Miner, being called, said that in tho first race he was only beaten by a length for a place, whilst in the second race he got away much better, although he did not get in front until the run to the post.

Mr Newman said that if the race had been six furlongs instead of seven The Miner would not have won. After further discussion the stewards dismissed the protest, but thought that Mr Harding had done right in bringing the matter before them.