THEY’RE OFF!

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 473, 1 October 1928, Page 10

THEY’RE OFF!

But The Start Was Only a False One REMARKABLE INCIDENT AT ELLERSLIE One of the most unsatisfactory incidents ever witnessed at Ellerslie occurred on Saturday afternoon in connection with the running of the ladies’ Bracelet, an event for amateur riders at the annual fixture of the Pakuranga Hunt Club. Tho field comprised 10 horses, and from a fair start there was a scramble and the usual rush for positions going out of the straight. Apparently it was a false start, but when the starter, Mr. C. O’Connor, called out to the riders, only two heard him, Moy Hall (the big favourite), and Mangaiti, and they pulled up in a few yards. The other horses carried on, however, although First Prince and Miss Alma were pulled up after they had covered five furlongs of the distance, one mile and aquarter. The crowd on the rails going out of the straight shouted and waved 10 the riders that it was not a start, but intent on their efforts to go on and win, the gentlemen riders could not catch the many and varied instructions. In many cases of amateur riders the public treat with derision their attempts to emulate the professional knights of the pigskin, and perhaps it was that on Saturday they thought they were in for an extra dose of it. When First Prince and Miss Alma pulled up along the back it was probably because they could not check their mounts sooner. Thundering On On they went, six of them, and the next attempt to check their wild progress was made by the clerk of the course, who galloped round to meet the field, joining with them at the threefurlong post. But still so keen were the riders on their job that, like “The Thundering Herd,” they could not be stopped. . _ , Into the straight tho hah-dozen horses charged, and a little further on it man—brave fellow —rushed into the centre of tho track, wildly brandishing his hat in one hand and a handkerchief in tho other. This apparently made some of the amateurs wise to the situation. for three more horses were eased up. But the finish was desperately fought out between three —Las&ati* Ramblin’ Kid and Ashleigh. The first two drew away, and mid the tumultuous cries of the spectators, Lassau, the second favourite, beat Ramblin’ Kid by two lengths, with Ashleigh four lengths back. Then the horses were ordered back to the starting point, where Moy Hall and Manga iti were calmly waiting lor the race to begin officially. About eight minutes were given the spent half-dozen horses time to recover. and then the field was started again. Under the circumstances, it certainly looked odds on the favourite winning, and he did. It was natural that Manga iti. the only other fresh horse, should run second —and return a double-figure dividend. It was a tragedy, as the actual finish showed. After the first two horses came Miss Alma and First Prince, who had gone only half-way in the false race. There was a dozen lengths

back to Pekatahi. a similar distance away was Bissau (the first winner) and then at long Intervals were V’aitannalia. Template. Hamblin* Kid and Ashleigh, over a furlong behind the first horse. This shows just how much the first strenuous effort —

for strenuous it •was. on a soft M track and with big

weights up—took it out of the horses. Incidentally, some of the riders were more tired than their mounts. There was a good deal of hooting when the horses and starter came back to the birdcage, which continued for some time, while there was a mild demand for “Money back.” It was a wretched affair altogether. The starter, in his explanation to the stewards, stated that the electric barrier slipped on him. This was quite feasible, of course, although it did not satisfy backers on any but the first two horses. Where an error appears to have been made, however, was in declaring it a false start, for the horses got away in a fair line after being stood up to the tapes. Had it been a very straggling start, or before time, there might have been reason to recall the runners, but as it was it would have been much more satisfactory. Booking at it from that viewpoint,

it could be regarded as an error of judgment on the part of the official, whose work for very many years has been beyond reproach. Recall Flag a Necessity It has often puzzled the writer as to what would actually happen when a false start was made, seeing that absolutely no provision is made in this country for the recall of the horses and their riders. Now, after Saturday’s debacle, something will have to be done to remedy this omission—which it really is. In England, the system used, up to a few years ago at least, was the posting of an official 100 yards or so in front of the starting point, armed with a flag, so that in the event of a false start tho starter could send him a signal. and the display of the flag would suffice to stop the race. It is really remarkable that we have been so immune from false starts and the necessity for the displaying of a recall Hag. At present everything is left to the starter, whoso voice only is the means of calling the horses back for a false start. Incidentally, the Rules of Racing state that the starter’s decision is final in all but certain instances.