SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 April 1918, Page 8

SPORTING.

# MANAWATU MEETING. SECOND DAY'S RESULTS BIPLANE DOES NOT STARTBy Telegraph,—Press Association. Palmerston N., Last Night. The Mananatu autumn meeting was brought to a conclusion in good weather. The course was in good order, fast times prevailing. The totalisator handled £45,397, making a total of £91,310 for the meeting, against £30,37S for the same meeting last year. Biplane did not start in the Stakes. At the request of Mr. Greenwood for an opinion in connection with the starting of the horse, the stewards passed the following resolution: "The stewards of the Manawatu Racing Club, in response to Mr. Greenwood's request that they should express an opinion as to the desirability of starting Biplane under existing conditions, desire to say that in vew of popular excitement and the possibility of an unseemly demonstration by the crowd, they think Mr. Greenwood would be well advised not to start his horse. On the other hand; should Mr. Greenwood think fit to start his horse, the stewards assure him that every precaution in their power will be taken to protect him, h?s trainer, his jockey, and the horse from insult or possible injury." Results:—

KAIRANGA HURDLES—2 Paul Moore (Stan Reed) 1, 3 Lord A'inslie 2, 7 Coalition 3- Also ran: 1 Iceberg, 4 Otter. 9 Record, 10 Reumac, 0 St. Elmn and Golden Glade (coupled), 5 The Summit, 8 Nita. A close finish between the placed horses. Time, 2min. 47sec.

STONYHURST WELTER.—4 Astor (Deeley) 1, 12 Vermillion 2, 10 Ohiwia 3. Also ran: f> Glorify, 7 Lady Louisa, 9 Hushman. 2 Probation, 17 Battle Song, .7 Comment, 1C Kiltess, 20 Welcome Nuggett, 15 George, 14 Cello, White Blaze,' 1 All Over, 13 Multaine, 23 Ladify, 11 Avon Park, 19 Hydros, IS Tirana, 21 "Hushabye, 8 Polynesian, 24 Detroit, Victoris. Wo n by a length, heads between the second and third horses. Timo, lmin- 2Ssec

HACK WELTER.-10 Wapping (R. Mancer) 1. 2 Midnight Star 2, 7 Rienzi 3 Also ran: 0 Hastic, 5 Demotic, 3 Gipsy Gem, Hi Rajput, 11 Quinn's Post, S Imaribbon, 9 Consultation, 1 Montoa Camp, 5 Warmth 17 Exclusive, 12 Pervolo, 15 Lady Edith, 13 Tiranga, 19 Blue Gown. 14 Turpinite, IS Royal Park, 21 Lady Phyllis, 20 Justification, 22 Royal Reign, i\ Half Blue- Won by a length, after a good race. Time, lmin. 4Gsec.

MANAWATU STAKES.—2 Hvmestra (Campbell) 1, 4 Nystad 2, 1 Estland 3. Also ran: 3 Koesian. Won all the way. Time, lmin. 14sec.

CLOVERLEA NURSERY HANDICAP. —1 Torfreda (H. Gray) 1, 5 Philomela 2, 4 Titwillow 3. Also ran: ? 7 Heathercote, C Informal, 11 Cherry Mart, 3 Paha Oil, 8 Oratress. 2 Arch Lassie, 10 Kilmoon, 0 Taunaba, 13 Risingham, 12 Gipsy Gold. The winner led from the rising of the tapes and won by a length from Philomela, who was three lengths in front of Titwillow. Time, lmin- 1 1-5 sec.

LONGROIN HANDICAP.—I Bonnie Maid (McFlynn) 1, 5 Yolo 2, 12 Tressida

3. Also ran: 2 Teka, 4 Red Ribbon, fi Ladogeur, 7 Nobleman, 8 Wishful, 7 Goid Soult, 9 Gang Awa. 10 Miss De Val, 11 Orleans, 13 Hushman, 14 Good Hope. A splendid race, a neck between the placed horses, Teka being close up fourth. Time, Sniin. 51-ssec, equalling Chortle's record put up in 1915.

HACK FLYTNG HANDICAP.—3 Galore (A. Reed) 1, 4 Engari 2, 14 White Hanger 3- Alio ran: 0 Ayah, 8 Queen Lizzie, 2 Formline, 1 Melita, 11 Momac, 5 Winning Shot, 11 Humorist, 13 Marenga, 7 Orawia. 15 Idle Talk. 17 Cross Words, 13 Skedaddle, 10 Occasion. 15 Miss Margaret, 7 Lisland, 14 Gloam, 12 Snnbright, IS Choice. The winner was always in the lead and won by half a length. Time, lmin. 14sec-

WWfUCm HANDICAP.—!) Acre (C Price) 1, 6 Association 2, 12 Starenga 3. Also ran: 1 Form Up. 2 Lady General. 5 Crowhurst, fi Birkenvale, 3 Lady Black, 11 Gamecock, 8 Jean Laddo, 4 Staccato, 10 Rawakore. Won by a head after a great finish. Time, lmin. 14 1-osec.

GREENWOOD'S EXPLANATION. BIPLANE UNFIT FOR TEN FURLONGS Wellington, Last Night., G- D. Greenwood arrived in Wellington this evening and made a brief statement to a reporter regarding the scratching of Biplane on Tuesday for the Awapuni Gold Cup. He said: "Sportsmen who Went to Palmerston to see the race between Biplane and Desert Gold did so to see two champions meeting fit and well- On arriving at at 4 o'clock on Tuesday afternoon { found Biplane was unfit to run ten fmiongs. I therefore most reluctantly availed myself of every owner's right by withdrawing him from the Gold Cup. The harsh and far-reaching resolution passed by the Manawatu stewards left me no choice but to scratch my champion for the Stakes and leave Palmerstoh."

SENSATION IN SYDNEY. Australian-N.Z. Cable Association. Received April 18, 11.10 p.m. Sydney, April IS. The Manawatu Club's action in connection with the scratching of Biplane has created a sensation in turf circles here. Further developments are eagerly awaited, in view of the fact that the general adoption of the stewards' recommendation will possibly preclude Biplane's promised visit to Australia in the spring.

The Manawatu Times of yesterday morning wrote editorially:—

The stewards of the Manawatu Racing Club have expressed their condemnation of the action of Mr. Greenwood and his trainer in scratching Biplane at the eleventh hour from the Awapuni Gold Cup in language which leaves no com* plaint on the ground of ambiguity, and they have marked their disapproval of the incident by a resolution which will serve two purposes: (1) to transfer the onus for the incident from the club and

place it upon the shoulders of tlte ownor. and (-2) to serve- as a warning Hint '"the ethics effacing" cannot be "grossly violated" without being visited with ex 1 - empiary reprobation. .Standing between horseowjiers and the public, racing clubs must act with firmness in cases of this kind. But' there is an aspect of this incident which cannot In fairness be lost sight of. It is* this: That though a very drastic resolution affecting Mr. Greenwood has been placed on record, the public has bad no opportunity of hearing

his &ide of the ease. It is said that Mr. Greenwood wished that Biplane should be started in the Gold Cup, but that his trainer, Mr. Mason, "did not consider the colt sufficiently wound up yet to do himself justice in a severe try-out over a mile and' a-quarter against Desert Gold or any other high-clans perloriner at top form, and, as he took a firm stand the scratching pen was used.' That is all right, as far aft-it goes, but the reply is that this fa«t must have been just as evident to Mr; Mason a week ago as the night before' the race! However, that is not the point. The point is this: Mr. Greenwood made "an explanation to the stewards." Why was not that explanation made available to the Press? or, belter still, why was not Press admitted to the enquiry? The Press represents the public in these matters—owners, trainers, jockeys, race-goers and all—and it should be admitted to all enquiries as a matter of course. These are days of fair publicity, and in all cases in which the reputations of individuals are in the slightest, way impugned all the cards should be placed on the table in justice to all concerned. In this case all that the man in the street knows is that a racing, club has taken the extreme course of ostracising an owner. The stewards may have felt

fully justified in that course. Possibly they were. We do not know, and the public who find the wherewithal to make racing possible do not know. J?or that reason we contend that in eases of this kind the Press should have its representatives in fairness to everybody concerned. Only in that way can everybody concerned be put on side. One word more. There was loud talk yesterdav on the course of ti demonstration should Biplane start to-day, There were even loud threats of violence. Such talk is ttonsensiohl. It is not sportsmanlike. Jt should be frowned down by responsible people. Hoodlumism is as out of place on a racecourse as in any otheJ-

place whore men and women come together for sport. Mr. Greenwood seems to have made a mistake in judgment—we all do that—but he has not. infringed the laws of 'racing. Why rub it in? Why infringe the laws of decency in the process of rubbing it. in? There was nothing in yesterday's demonstration which makes us feel at all solicitous of seoina it repeated. Let the game go on, end let the best horse win! DESERT GOLD. EXTRAORDINARY SCENE AT AWAPUNI. Writes the Wellington Times racing reporter from Palm erston:

One of the most extraordinary scenes ever witnessed on a racecourse took place at Awapuni to-day —the first day of the Miinawatu Racing Club's meeting. Many hundreds of people from all over Australasia foregathered to witness the trial between Desert Gold and Biplane, two New Zealand horses which have cleaned up everything in Australasia. It has always been assumed that the meeting of the horses would solve a problem which for a long time has been in dispute amongst sportsmen of the true kind. After the successful exploits of Biplane in Australia, where he was a double Derby winner, and the fine performances of Desert Gold during the earlier part of the New Zealand season, and. later in Australia, where she carried all before her, including the defeat of the redoubtable Cotigne, one of Australasia's best performers, people came eagerly to Palmerston to witness the match. Motors were legion, and sleeping accommodation was simply unobtainable. So much for the interest taken in the contest between Desert Gold and Biplane. Then came the thunderclap. Biplane was scratched at the last moment. Wiseheads in Wellington informed your reporter on Tuesday morning that Biplane would not be stepped out in the Cup, but the suggestion was turned down as being ridiculous: and, indeed, it. appeared to be so, considering the circumstances. However, Biplane was duly scratched at the eleventh hour, his trainer stating, so it is said, that if he was to start, his owner would have to find another trainer.

General indignation was expressed on all sides here to-day at the attitude adopted by the connections of Biplane. No special reference was made to the horse, the owner, or the trainer; everyone appeared to be in a fog as to .what had occurred. But there was no mistaking the extreme indignation which prevailed. The beginning of the storm, which could easily be seen brewing, came when Finmark won the Sires' Produce Stakes, Finmark, of course, being one of Mr. Lowry's horses. It was easy to deduce the attitude of the crowd when Desert Gold/ the champion mare of Australasia (and one of the- greatest ever produced south of the line) appeared in the birdcage. There was a storm dicer followed cheer, and there were many hoots and howls for the missing Biplane.

Never was there such a demonstration on a racecourse. The mare strolled into the paddock in her customary nonchalant manner, and she was the cynosure of all eyes. When she stretched down the straight in her preliminary she was cheered from one end of the course to the other. The race started, and the champion quickly took the. commanding position, and, of course, kept it. When the mare returned to the paddock she was cheered, and cheered, and cheered again. The scene was almost beyond description for a horse race; it was phenomenal.

After the official portion of the business had been disposed of, Desert Gold was led to the lawn, where the president of the club made a speech extolling the sportsmanlike qualities of Mr. Lowry in sending his mare out almost immediately after her return from Australia, and saying other things about another horse which was scratched. After the speech cheers were given for Desert Gold without being called for, and hoots by the hundred were given for Biplane. Then several sportsmen got hold of Mr. Lowry, and "chaired" him to ;thc main stand. The whole episode indicates the feeling of the public in being denied an interesting match between Desert Gold and Biplane, and it was distinctly significant, inasmuch as it indicated that the public cannot be fooled all the time.