NOOR’S RECORD IN U.S.

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26319, 13 January 1951, Page 4

NOOR’S RECORD IN U.S.

RANKED WITH PHAR LAP RETIREMENT AT PEAK OF HIS FAME (Bp WILLIAM FLYNN, A.A.P.-Reuter Correspondent.) .. . SAN FRANCISCO. e g oers , here fil >ally have found anPhX fi° rse ,t° enshrine in memory with of h a ml * ht y Australian horse of a generation ago. who died after winning his first North American race. It is Insh-born Noor, the five-year-old son of Nasrullah—Queen of Baghdad, which has been retired to the stud at the peak ot nis fame on United States tracks aft-r his win in the 100,000 dollars Gold Cup Handicap at Santa Anita. Noor came into his own during the last year of his racing career. He won a total of 356,940 dollars in purses and set two world records; Imin 58 l-ssec for a mile and a quarter, and Imin 46 4-ssec a _, mile and an eighth. He also established one United States record, 2min 52 , T se ,S; to L. a m ii e and three-quarters. t Unlike Phar Lap, Noor seldom was the horse to beat” when he went to the post. His duels with Citation, the champion which had dominated American racing, were an example of his "underdog" r ole. Always he was on the short end of the betting. Always there were excuses that Citation did not win because he carried unfair weights. Th<e weight difference was reduced until Citation's original extra burden of 231 b was wiped out and in the fourth and final race Noor carried 1271 b, lib more than Citation. He then whipped the veteran by three lengths and in so doing set his world record for the mile and a quarter.

These four victories over Citation, with the series concluded at Golden Gate Fields here last summer, broke the- former champion’s heart and deprived his owner of a long-sought goal—l,ooo.ooo dollars in purses won by a single horse during his racing career. In the race that ended his career, Noor again was ignored by the bettors, who made Hill Prince, the "horse of the year,” the favourite. Other entries in the race included Assault, tho 1946 national champion; Ponder, the 1949 Kentucky Derby winner; On Trust, the record moneywinner on California tracks; and Vanderbilt’s 1950 prize filly. Next Move. As usual, Noor came from behind, winning by a length over Palestinian, and three lengths ahead of Hill Prince, and Noor set a track record covering the mile and a quarter in Imin 59 4-ssec. “Those improvers of the breed who claim to know all about horses will tell you sagely that Noor’s incredible performances are explained simply by his excellent Irish background.” the “Bulletin" said. "They will talk knowingly of Noor's sire, the great Nasrullah, reared like Noor on the fertile limestone plains of County Kildare. These wiseacres will explain that Noor and Nasrullah and, indeed. many other Irish horses, can be world-beaters simply because the climate, grass, and water of the Emerald Isle are the best in the world for breeding greathearted horses.

"If you will go to Ireland, however, the old women of the countryside will tell you a different story. They will explain patiently that Noor and Nasrullah are no mere mortal horses but are, verilv. the Fairy Steeds of the Tuatha De Danaan, the Fairy Kings who have lived within the green hills since before the dawn of history." Noor now will be "living on the fat of the land” at the Howard ranch, on the Pacific Coast. The most famous member of the Howard stable until Noor came along was Seabiscuit, the little horse with the big heart. He won the Santa Anita Handicap on his third try after twice losing by a nose. He was sent to the fertile fields of the Howard ranch in the wilderness area of northern California and there lived out his years in comfort. Noor will be retired to the San Ysidro farm in southern California, where the hills are always green. • The decision to retire him was made by Mrs Marcella Howard, widow of Charles Howard founder of the stables. She said she did not want to see the horse beaten. And the horse experts now have concluded that Noor is entitled to rank with Phar Lap, as the only other horse foaled outside the United States which is worthy to be mentioned in the same breath with the great Australian horse.