IS OPEN TO ABUSE

NZ Truth, Issue 1214, 7 March 1929, Page 13

IS OPEN TO ABUSE

All Trotting Rules Should Be Hard and Fast

(From. "N.Z. Truth's" North Island Representative). Trotting rules are not made to be broken, but one m particular is coming m for no small measure of abuse.

THE one referred to- deals with the substituting of one rider or driver for another, but m' this rule there, is a get-out. - ' According to the law laid down by the N.Z. Conference, the same reinsman must be engaged each time the certain competitor starts at the meeting. „ However, the stewards have the right to grant permission fora change to be made should the case warrant it — hence the get-out. At Claudelands, owner T. Robertson behind Nell Dillon m the Waipa Handicap, but later m the day A. Julian held the ribbon j, and he put the Author Dillon mare first past the post m a willing contest. .* "N.Z. Truth"' has it that permission 'niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii'iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiii.iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

for the change was granted before Nella Dillon competed m her initial engagement. The reason given was to the effect that Julian usually drives the mare, but as he had Medusa engaged m the Waipa Mile, T. Robertson had to give it a go himself. With a more experienced driver m the Waipa heat Nella Dillon would not have run so wide out. Medusa, benefited by this, getting a better passage, but even then she could only run third. The. change proved the right business,' but unles3 some hard and fast rule is adhered to the 'changing of drivers or. riders, is likely to be taken advantage of . when lenient stewards have the matter m their hands, y