POVERTY BAY RACES

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1675, 16 February 1906, Page 2

POVERTY BAY RACES

(To the Editor of the Times.) tiir,—Kindly allow me to make comment in regard to the manner in whioh the totalisators were run at yesterday’s rneeting of the Poverty Bay Turf Club, In nearly every race the totalieator was merrily ilnging as the horses were coming up the straight. I have been cn a great many. racecourses in my life, but have never seen such a loose management of affaits. Such a system as prevailed yes torday opens the way to fraud, and is altogether antagonistic to true sporting instincts.—l am, eto., OCCASIONAL PUNTER.

[The explanation given by the stewards of the Club is that every commission received up to the time of starting, when the bell is rung, must be registered. This rale was strictly observed yesterday, and in no oase was a commission received after the bell had gone.]

RACING ETHICS.

KS!o the Editor Gisborne Timely Sir, —There are one or two things in regard to racing in Gisborne which I should like to oali attention to with a view of preventing any slight irregularities occurring. The first is the question of judging and the presence of persons more Or less interested in the judge’s box. There should only be ono man in the box when the horses pass tho post, and that gentleman should be the judge, who must to the beet of his ability plaoe the horses as they passed the post. Secondly, the totaliooter is supposed to stop ringing when tbe s'arter despatches his field, and not be giving out its weloome chimes as tbe horses pass ihe post. I know a man cnoe who Biways wa'ted by tho msebips to 6ce what was in front at the homo turn, and then if tbe opportunity presented he would risk a couple of tickets on it. This is not fair to other baokors. Thirdly, when a ! horso runs last one day payiDg something like 50 to 1, and then comes out and wins at under evens, the stewards should keep their eyes open. It is not fair to other ownore.—l am, etc., VISITOR.