BEATING THE TOTE.

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 626, 1 April 1929, Page 1

BEATING THE TOTE.

CHAMPAGNE STAKES INCIDENT NO PROTEST LODGED The customary shout of “They're off” is usually not an unwelcome sound on a racecourse, particularly when it announces the start of such a classic event as the (Treat Northern Champagne Stakes. At Ellerslie on Saturday, however, when the roar floated down the long queues waiting before the still open totalisator it proved rather disconcerting. Although the starting time was given at 2.3< p.m., and the time for closing the machine at 2.35. the- race actually commenced at 2.33. As the timo for six furlongs is usually about a minute and a-qdurter the race would ‘have been completed before the totaliSator was timed to close only that instructions to close down were hurriedly given when the horses were about to enter the straight. Long queues were waiting to participate in the la si-minute rush when the race started, and many who. of course, intended to back Gay Ballerina. were shut out. By the time they had returned to the stands the racehad been won and the horses were returning to the birdcage. In the event of a race being started 1 before time. Part XXIV., clauses 4 and 5 of the Rules of Racing states that “a start in front of the starting post, or on a wrong course, or before the appointed time, shall be void, and the horses shall be started again as soon as practicable.” “The starter’s decision shall be final, except in case of a start in front of the starting post, or on a wrong course, or before the appointed time.” RESULT NOT AFFECTED

Air. W. S. Spence, secretary to the club, states that ten minutes is allowed for the lodging of a protest. None was lodged, however, ant so no action was taken. The result of tha race had not been affected in any way, and he thought the only sensible thing to do was leave the matter as it stood. Although the rules provided for the re-running of a race started before lime, he thought that some alteration should be made. It would certainly not be fair to ask liigh-class two-year-olds such as contested that race to run twice in the same afternoon as a penalty for an early start. The Champagne Stakes carries a stake of £I,OOO for the owner, Mr. H. Kirkpatrick, of Sydney, who purchased Bay Ballerina from Mr. W. £. Stead prior to the Manawatu Racing Club's meeting on March 2J. At this meeting Gay Ballerina won the Sites’ Produce Stakes, of £SOO, and took another £SO for third place in the Manawatu Stakes.

Prior to the Manawatu meeting the filly has won £1,050 for Mr. \V. S. Stead, and at the Wellington Racing Club’s meeting on March 18. just before .- lie was sold, won the North Island Challenge Stakes. It was stated that she was sold for £2,000.