Te Koroke Should Never Have Been Beaten

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 395, 2 July 1928, Page 10

Te Koroke Should Never Have Been Beaten

Te Koroke continues to race unluckily, for the gelded son of the Absurd horse Humbug met with interference at the distance in the Awakino Handicap, and then was only beaten by a neck. In front of him was Waltzer, and it was surely the irony of fate that it was he that interfered with Te Koroke. The incident happened under the eyes of the crowded stands and within good range of the stewards, so that it was obvious that there would be an inquiry. There was, and the announce-

ment of the finding was given in rather extraordinary words: “The stewards inquired into the interference by Waltzer of Te Koroke. and “found that there was insufficient evidence to cause the stewards to alter the judge’s placings.” Waltzer was fourth favourite, and Te Koroke a short-priced first fancy on the totalisator. When Waltzer Swerved The incident that was the subject of the inquiry eventuated just below the furlong post. Waltzer was actually in front at that time, some distance out from the rails, with Te Koroke further out and perhaps just over a length behind. Waltzer was going well when lie seemed to suddenly falter and swerve

out, before his rider could get him in hand again. By the time the horse was straightened up he was dead in front of Te Koroke, and the latter was put out of his stride. A Close Finish The favourite was not yet beaten, however, and he put in a good run again, and at the judge was only a neck behind Waltzer. The inquiry resulted as above. One would have thought that the occurence was plainly visible to the stewards to enable them to take any action to meet the case, and to the writer it seemed a clear case of where the judge’s plac-ings could be reversed and the ends of racing justice met. Going on the words of the finding, the stewards were probably induced to let the placings stand after hearing the jockeys’ evidence, whereas it might have been better to have acted on the evidence of their own eyesight. The swerving of Waltzer at that critical stage of the race was not deliberate, so far as his rider was concerned, but nevertheless the interference with the horse directly behind was vital and appeared to call for some action.