TROTTING AT EPSOM

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 515, 19 November 1928, Page 10

TROTTING AT EPSOM

OTAHUHU CARNIVAL OPENS LONG INQUIRY AFFECTS “TOTE" BIG POOL IN SADDLE EVENT WEATHER and general conditions could not have been more favourable for patrons of the light-harness sport than those prevailing on Saturday for the opening day of the Otahuhu soring carnival. There was a large attendance at Alexandra Park to witness the many fine contests staged by the club.

The track was in wonderful order, and, needless to say, fast times were repeatedly recorded during the progress of the function. Strange to say, despite the highly satisfactory state of the track, horses in the principal items failed to put up theii handicap times. This can be taken as a criterion that the class engaged in the main events on Saturday .vas not up to the usually high tandard seen out at Alexandra Park. The management was Al, and all the officials were alert to the requirements of the organisation and a desire to see the meeting brought to a successful issue. The secretary. Air. R. L. Absolum, watched proceedings in his customary capable and efficient manner. THOUSANDS LOCKED UP Messrs. R. T. Reid and A. E. Commons, the stipendiary stewards, kept a vigilant watch, and after the Onehunga Handicap instigated an inquiry into the case of Laplander boring. over on to Free Advice. The hearing was a long one. and eventually the judicial committee altered the placings, and administered a caution to F. G. Holmes, driver of Laplander The owner of the latter lodged an appeal, with the result that the stake and investments on Free Advice and Laplander were impounded pending the hearing of the appeal. This was most unfortunate for the club, as over £3,000 was locked up through the inquiry, ctnd this had a detrimental effect or. subsequent investments, and when the totalisator tally was checked at the end of the day it was found there was a deficiency of £16.603 on last year’s first-day total, the respective figures being—l 927. £52,766: 1928, £36.163. The racing was interesting throughout, and the finishes exciting, proving that handicapper Gooseman had carried out his duties successfully. The local trainer. J. Shaw, scored a dual success with Native Prince,

course). Horizon. Marionette and Lonl Lu in close order. Travis Axworthy led along the back and into the home stretch again from St Bridget, Horb zon. Halgana. Warplane. Marionette! Peter Grattan and Trustworthy, and went on to score convincingly by three parts of a lergth from Horizon, who got up on the post to beat St. Bridget, who broke, by a clear length for sic. ond money. Halgana was fourth and the next were Marionette, Warplane,