REAL REASON

NZ Truth, Issue 1187, 30 August 1928, Page 12

REAL REASON

Reported Explanation * No Guide "- • ■ * — I (From "N.Z. Truth's" North Island 1 Rep.) ■ j Whenever' an inquiry, hs held, .'into alleged inconsistent running, about all that is heard at the time is that a satisfactory explanation •was forthcoming. "THAT is about as much as is made ■*• public when no action is taken — and on this score the betting fraternity reckon they have reason for complaint. When a competitor, at its first start at a meeting, carries next to nothing and runs accordingly, but bolts home j second time out when supported more | ; liberally, it is only natural that students of form want to know why. ' At the inquiry, whatever evidence rwas produced is generally withheld . and "not until the published account of a meeting: of the board of the N.Z. Trotting Association are the full facts made public. It is estimated that if. bettors : were acquainted with the full proceedings as soon as possible, it would give an idea of when and ', where the competitor, under suspicion should — or should not — be ( supported. In many instances, this may' he all right, but the ' evidence of owner or trainer when on the carpet is not always a guide as to his representative's pet distances, etc. To prove this, one has only to quote the case of Jackie. Audubon at the Auckland winter meeting, when, . after running unplaced m a mile and a-half event, he . sprung a surprise later m "" the day by bolting home over ten fur- | longs. The stewards, after asking a question, decided to accept the explanation. ' It was not until a meeting of the Association this month that the majority of those who witnessed his displays learned of the evidence that was satisfactory. The gelding's owner is reported to have stated that his representative always ran better the second time out and was looked upon as a mile and aquarter horse. ; • . Perhaps, fpr punters who go on trainers' opinions, it was just as well that this "information" was not made common property until after the first day at Addington, where Jackie Audubon — first time out — won nicely (ai?dover two miles into the bargain). The whole lot goes to show that punters would not find the job any easier to sort out the good things if they knew everything. Nevertheless, the public is fully entitled to all the. facts soon - after . the hearing, 'for it is the public which keeps the sport on the? go.