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Gesticulator Scratched In Odd Hollywood Ruling Breaks Through Gate Just Prior To Start; Order 6,800 Refund HOLLYWOOD PARK, Inglewood, Calif., May 24. — By an odd twist of circumstance the Hollywood Park stewards last Saturday found themselves scratching a horse, Gesticulator, after he had run his race. It occurred in the fifth race, in which the Anita King horse finished second to Golden Sickle. It happened this way: Just a moment before Sid Swanson effected the official start Gesticulator broke through the gate and was on his way. He took a lead of several lengths and then his rider, Ray York, sensing that it might have been a false start eased his mount back. Then, after the field caught up with him York got busy and Gesticulator settled down to running. At the wire it was Golden Sickle, Gesticulator, Roman Arrow and One Ton Tony, in that order. Before making the result official, however, the stewards viewed motion pictures of the start and ruled that inasmuch as Gesticulator actually broke through the gate before the off icial break he was not to be considered in the race and all money wagered on him, 6,800, was ordered refunded. The stewards ruling follows: "In the fifth race, inasmuch as number four 4 Gesticulator broke through the gate prior to the official start, he could not be considered as a starter in the race. Therefore it is ordered that all tickets on Gesticulator be refunded and that he not be considered in the official order of finish."
