SOUNDS WARNING NOTE

NZ Truth, Issue 1193, 11 October 1928, Page 13

SOUNDS WARNING NOTE

Sporting Public Demands Fair Run For Moiie^

-. (From Truth's" Special Auckland : Representative.) ." . One outcome of the riot at Ellerslie. on Saturday (fully reported; on should be to, instance clearly the fact that the -racing public expects a run for ite money*

ALSO that if racegoers consider they have not been given a fair go, it is within their power to cause trouble and hold up proceedings. All this should be borne m mind. by racing authorities and patrons' needs duly attended to-rnot forgetting the "outside" public m particular. ; Hound about cities . such as Auckland, the "outside" public is an important factor. . Although the onlookers who were mainly the cause- of the trouble last Saturday Included a very small percentage of those who thronged the course itself, the fact cannot be denied that the racing heads have received a warning. ... When things go wrong, those who hardly understand racing rules .can assert themselves— and will do so. ' To get down ( to facts, although/accidental m both cases, it was little/satisfaction to the majority' of punters to have to stand up to two such happenings within a week as the starts of the Ladies' Bracelet at Pakuranga and the Mitchelson Cup. . ■ Perhaps now that It is all over, it is just as ■ well that strong disapproval was voiced, for it will serve to acquaint racing officials with the fact that some Improved method is required to let not only horsemen, but the public, know when "a start is a start." Both at Pakuranga and at the Ellerslie fixture, everybody (including horsemen) was m doubt ' until the starter himself was heard on the point. The .starter's version has rightly to be accepted as final m these matters, but that hardly satisfies an angry public which does not get, a run for its money, or, as m the case of several horses which' contested the Bracelet

of the 29th, got top much "run" so far as. several horses were concerned. Some signal. from flags or electrio bells 1b required toVaotlfy the riders concerned when a -start".lS a starter not. ■ ■.-.-. ,k .- .-. „.■--■ .■ ; ■• ; The mere lifting of the barrier is not sufficient, as instanced-in'the Bracelet at Pakuranga,: when the barrier- slipped up accidentally . on. \the official m charge.; ;-*.';c;;j; ;;;;"'""•"■.' r':,;:;? ■'. "■ ■'■■' ■ '- The! .demonstration' of Saturday

i.iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiijimiimuiiniiriiiiiiuiiiiiiiiitiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiii last at Ellerslie was scarcely justified or endorsed by the majority of those present, but it is surely a hint to those m. charge of the sport that there is urgent need for careful control where a critical public is concerned. ' And the racing public is undoubtedly critical, as it has every right to be, for it provides the cash which makes the game possible: