Caduceus May Have Run His Last Race

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29240, 25 June 1960, Page 6

Caduceus May Have Run His Last Race

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

NEW YORK, June 24.

New Zealand’s Caduceus, first in a deadheat but later relegated to last placing by a stewards’ protest, might have ended his racing career in a swirl of confusion and controversy.

His part-owner, Dudley Moore, said after the running of the third and final leg of the International Pace at Yonkers Raceway that he would decide within the next few days whether the nine-year-old stallion would stay on for more races in the United States or be returned home.

Moore, who did not mention any possibility of his selling the horse, said if Caduceus returned home he would go to stud. There was no possibility of his racing again in either New Zealand or Australia. Caduceus led from the barrier rise in the 50,000 dollars (about £22321) international event, over eight furlongs. He finished in a dead-heat with Canada's Champ Volo. The photo-finish sign flashed on the course indicator at Yonkers and then the confusion began. The word “objection” flashed out in red beneath the official board. A course announcement said that an objection had been lodged against Caduceus. In the wait for that to be decided the New Zealander’s number lit up on the board, and Champ Volo’s number was flashed against the second placing, while America’s Speedy Pick was apparently placed third and Bye Bye Byrd fourth. What followed caught the press room at the course totally unprepared, as the numbers alternated and official announcements came over the course address system one by one—the last one during the running of the next race.

The situation in the judges’ box and stewards’ room could only be imagined. In all there were four protests lodged. When all had been decided, Cadueeus was placed last. Champ Volo had been given the race, Speedy Pick was officially second Canada’s Mighty Dudley third and Widower Creed, which actually trailed the field a dead last in the running, was given fourth placing. American Rules Under American racing rules a horse can be penalised if he interferes with another horse any time during the running of the race. It was not announced, but it was later deduced that the stewards had lodged the first protest against Cadueeus on the grounds that he interfered with Oißrien Hanover, which took no part in the finish, shortlv after the start. The New Zealand driver, J. D. Litten, admitted that interference.

The stewards also lodged a protest against Cadueeus on behalf of Bye Bye Byrd, in the home stretch. This, Litten denied. Fred Bradbury, the driver of Speedy Pick, officially placed second, lodged a protest against the eventual winner. Champ Volo, on the grounds of interference in the home straight. This protest was dismissed. 'The fourth protest apparently stemmed from the stewards. It was against Bye Bye Byrd, on behalf of Widower Creed, which finished a long last in the race. On the strength of that protest Widower Creed was given fourth position and Bye Bye Byrd, which had broken in front of him, was placed fifth. It vzas only after it had been announced that Cadueeus because of the interference to both O’Brien Hanover and Bye Bye Byrd, had been placed seventh and last that journalists were told—by the course announcer —that the finish had been a dead heat. Until then it had been assumed, because the number three of Caduceus was still in the winning frame and Champ Volo was marked second, that the little New Zealander had stayed up just long enough to beat off the Canadian challenge in a neck-to-neck finish.

The two horses had battled it out down the straight to the finishing post, with Champ Volo appearing to be going the better on the outside but with Cadueeus under tremendous pressure managing to stave off what seemed like certain defeat.

“Happy” With Driving

Moore said after the race that he naturally was most disappointed with the penalty on Caduceus.

Asked if he was "happy” with Litten’s driving throughout the series in which Cadueeus notched a fourth, a third, and a seventh, Moore said: "Yes, quite happy . . . I have no criticism.” He said that under New Zealand and Australian rules Litten would have been heavily fined for

having interfered with O’Brien Hanover but the result probably would not have been upset. Moore emphasised, however, that he was not complaining about the result because Caduceus was racing under American rules.

Moore said that Caduceus might stay on for some races in the United States, but that this would not be decided for a few days. “I’ll think about it this weekend and then we’ll see.” he added. He said that if he decided to take Caduceus home the horse would have to go through England, with six months’ quarantine, and that by the time he arrived home the summer trotting season would be finished. It would be too much then to expect Caduceus, at his age, to return to racing. The horse would go to stud.