FAILURE OF STIPES

NZ Truth, Issue 1302, 27 November 1930, Page 11

FAILURE OF STIPES

Inquiry Would Have Been Welcomed by Punters TWO AWFUL DISPLAYS If those who visited Levin and backed either 'Fernden or Paiko m the big heat left the' track feeling that tney did not get the best run possible for their money they are to be sympathised with.

MOT that "Truth" for one moment thinks that they were on the "ruddy" stoomers of Ginger Mick's fancy, but the fact remains that the shockingly bad showings of Fernden and Paiko called for an inquiry — and there was no inquiry. A few weeks back at Otaki, Paiko won the big event the first day, and then on the seqond day forced a class horse like Vertigern to go aill out to beat him. Paiko beat Pahu m his winning . race, and Pahu came to Trentham and won the big heat, and those who finished astern of Pahu were not selling platers. At Trentham Fernden ran fourth m the open mile, an,d then twp days later, at Waverley, won the Cup. Here were two horses with the best of exposed form, and, served with riders of ability, it was no wonder that backers could not gro past them last Saturday. Of course there is always the "glorious uncertainty" to be contended with, but when Pa'ko and Fernden ran like a pair of mules m a field that was little above mule class, it was only reasonable for the person who was hit through his pocket to say nasty things. The lamentable displays of the two favorites obviously called for . an inquiry, which would have given the connections of the two horse-owners, trainers and riders — an opportunity to explain the mediocre showings. "Truth" knows that owners Bill Jury and Ernie Whiteman expected victory, , and each reckoned the danger 'was coming from the other. Thus it is only reasonable to state that this pair would have been pleased had there been 'a. call to come upstairs and explain. Both Jury and "Whiteman were extremely disappointed, and "Truth" watched Ernie when he stood by while Paiko's rider was unsaddling. Whiteman. was pointing over the

course, and asking what was wrong, but the jockey could only tell him that "he couldn't go." Twice this informa-. tion was imparted.

••Thafs just the point, and thiat's what punters paid to find out-. And then again there were two stipes present,, also paid' to find out, and ha,d they made anen- '-' deavor to solve the mystery of why "he couldn't go" the situation would have been eased considerably. r • " Public money keeps racing going, and paid officials should investigate incidents of this kind and let the world know why.