Lucky Light's Win Was Not Palatable

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 864, 7 January 1930, Page 12

Lucky Light's Win Was Not Palatable

Angry Demonstrators

The win scored by Lucky Light ! in the last race at the Southland meeting on Friday last was not popular with a section of the crowd, which demonstrated vociferously. I “Lucky Light had scarcely passed the | winning post in the Final Handicap at ; the Southland Racing Club’s meeting 1 before the crowd, both in the paddock | and outside enclosures, commenced a j hostile demonstration against the owner, Mr. W. T. Hazlett, president I of the club, and the rider-trainer, F. J. McKay, that grew in intensity for several minutes until one of the members of the Judicial Committee ordered that the inquiry flag should be hoisted,” wrote a Christchurch critic at the meeting. “Mr. Hazlett is chairman of that committee, and, as in this instance he was on the wrong side of the table, only the other members — Messrs. W. Grieve, acting-chairman, .1. B. Thomson, Eric M. Russell and Dr. Garfield Crawford—heard the case. The Fade Out “In the Waihopai Handicap on the previous day Lucky Light, 8.3, who was favourite, was right up with the leaders for five furlongs, then dropped back last, and at the finish only had Gold Tinge behind her. In Friday’s race Lucky Light had 7.13, and until . the final adjustment on the totalisator was showing a price nearer double figures than even money, but when the final figures were rung up they showed her to be sefcond favourite. At the barrier, where her rider drew the rails, she was very fractious, and, though other horses which had not been any worse behaved had been placed behind the field during the meeting, one of the starter’s assistants kept leading her up into her place and finally held her there until the remainder of the field was in line. She did not gain any particular advantage at the start, but got well away. Less than half a mile had been covered when she was running at the tail of her field, but once round the far turn she put in a wonderful run which landed her first into the straight. Instead of running out from the rails as she did at the finish of

the Spring Plate at Riccafton last November, she finished as straight as an arrow and won easily by a length from Red Sea. For Over an Hour! “It was then the demonstration commenced, and it was continued for an hour and 20 minutes, when it was announced ‘That in view or the evidence submitted it was unanimously resolved that the explanations of the owner and riders be accepted. The evidence disclosed that the horse was substantially backed by both owner and trainer on both days.’ Even then (6.55 p.m.), the crowd hung about the birdcage, but in the meantime the police had been reinforced and were well distributed. Except for the hooting and counting out of the owner, the people were quite orderly.” Another Version Now here is what the Southland “Times” has to say on the occurrence:— “Following on the concluding event, the Final Handicap, a hostile demonstration was . made against the winner Lucky Light, and the hooting and noise grew in volume as hundreds of patrons gathered at the inner and outer birdcage railings or crowded the embankments adjacent. Eventually it became known that the Judicial Committee, at the instance of the stewards, was holding an inquiry into the running of Lucky Light in the Waihopai Handicap of the previous day and the Final Handicap, both events decided over similar distances.

Meanwhile the demonstration was continued and carried oyer a lengthy period. After hearing the explanations of the owner of the winner. Mr. W. T. Hazlett, and his trainer. F. J. McKay, and weighing the evidence of the rider (L. J. Ellis) of the second horse (Red Sea), the committee unanimously resolved that the owner’s and trainer’s explanations be accepted. The official finding was conveyed to the public per

medium of a notice board and the order to pay out in accordance with the judge’s decision was made, whereupon the hostile gathering, which had been in evidence for a lengthy period, gradually dispersed and a regrettable incident closed. “Prolonged and Unpleasant” ‘The demonstration was a prolonoged and unpleasant one and in the main appeared to be commenced by a limited number of onlookers who took exception to a delay at the starting barrier caused by the vagaries of three badlybehaved horses, Lucky Light (the winner), Coomassie and Red Boa, who kept tho other contestants waiting until they could be induced to come i,nto line. The objectors to the starting delay appeared to be of the opinion that the

misbehaving: racers should have been stood behind their more patient rivals, as provided for in the Rules of Racing-, a procedure adopted in another case at the fixture. It was reported that an appeal had been lodged against the finding of the Judicial Committee, but an inquiry in an official quarter elicited the information that this was not correct. An Erratic Galloper “With regard to the inquiry itsel it is understood that evidence wa forthcoming to the effect that Luck Light, who is noted as a galloper c erratic tendencies, was suffering froi a trouble peculiar to her sex, and als that she was strongly supported i each of her engagements under review by the stable, while she was tried ou with some improvement in her man ners by the removal of restraining head gear used on the opening da; and previously found successful 01 other courses. It is also understood that L. J. Ellis, the rider of the secom horse, Red Sea,' was able to throv some light on the position of the firs day in the Wailiopai Handicap, wliei Lucky Light bored his mount (Spark ling Eyes) out very badly dining the race and eventually ran wid< herself when called upon for a iina effort, wayward behaviour which raus have seriously prejudiced her chance; on the first day.

“In connection with her winning: essay, it was noted that Lucky Light again bored out at the home turn, behaviour which previously caused her to lose bright chances of success on Northern tracks and in important events at Trentham, Riccarton and Wingatui, facts which may not have been known to the majority of those who took exception to her apparent reversal of form at the current fixture. In addition to the mare’s reported interference with Sparkling Eyes in the Waihopai Handicap on Thursday, it was also to be noted that she hampered Money Mine, when racing across the top and carried him out to spoil his chance and defeat herself, a fact which was probably not disclosed at the inquiry, but well known to trainers, sporting Pressmen and other interested or trained observers. The career of Lucky Light for some time past has been replete with instances of the curious vagaries of a brilliant but erratic performer who has unexpectedly let her connections down where more generous racers would have recorded clear-cut successes.”