MADE TO ORDER FOR THE PRESIDENT'S HORSE

NZ Truth, Issue 1303, 4 December 1930, Page 13

MADE TO ORDER FOR THE PRESIDENT'S HORSE

ALTERATION MADE AFTER ACCEPTS ALISON'S SIR MOND ALWAYS BETTER IN SECOND OUTING v STRONG CRITICISM OF THAT TM^ (From '* N.Z.^ Truth 's'^ Special ATicldand; Representative.) . . The introduction of the "dollar" tote was not the only nieans by which the Takapuna Club came into the limelight over its spring fixture. ■■;•. \ \

IT sprang an entirely new ,one on to owners by deciding, after the acceptances, .to alter the order of • running, making the Takapy na Plate 'the., fourth, racei instead of the sixth , event. . .■ • ■■;.'... '■':■■ •/ .'. ;■;„• . ■. Everybody . wondered . why, and "Truth" has". it from the secretary that more, speculation was expected on the Plate by/ its earlier position on -the programme. However, the Veneral opinion was that the change .was made. to. give any hores which happened to have accepted, m, bpth. the Plate, and the v Ponui ia. more reasonable chance of starting m both events. This would mean an interval to', re- . fresh of over two hours instead of. a rush under, the: old ' order with the Ponui!- Handicap ' 'following directly after, the' Plate; -. v '_ -'". .' '' ' If this was really- the main reason, the" club was at fault by not making the'/. change prior to, the acceptances falling due, for it did not extend the right privilege to all owners. At least one owner mad© it plain to -''Truth" that' he .would certainly have- accepted m both. the Plate and Poiiul,: instead 'of the Ponui .. only, if

the , change had been t made prior to payments faMing due. ■' It so happened that Sir Mon.d, racing m the nomination of the President. I Hon. 25. W. "Alison, accepted m both, even'ts.^and as<Sir Mond is a horse which appears to :be racing better m his second start on the day, everything was finally m favor of the President's neddy catching the Ponui,' provided he missed the Plate. : A That is. just what really happened/ and' the incident . caused quite a lot of adverse comment \ against Takapuna. The change round on Saturday last was all .m favor of the President's horse, but there was ho squeal coming from the main army' of punters, who sized up the position quickly and made /Sift Mond, m the /weaker class, first, favorite. ' However, the Takapuna Club . will have a 'better chance of keeping faith with owners' generally if they refrain from making similar changes after s acceptance day. . . ' The^ Qlub ; merited all the adverse criticism heaped, on it over the incident.