Dick Francis finds National course to his liking

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34012, 28 November 1975, Page 1 (Supplement)

Dick Francis finds National course to his liking

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J. J. BOYLE

Dick Francis, the man who didn’t win the most sensational of English Grand Nationals on the Queen Mother's Devon Loch, was at Riccarton yesterday to inspect the course over which the New Zealand Grand National is run.; And he liked what he saw. “So different from Melbourne, and the fences they jump at Flemington.’’ said the friendly Englishman who has achieved fame as a novelist since he retired

> from race riding 19 years » ago. r Francis must be sick and j t ired of people who want to vknow what really happened j'io make Devon Loch 'collapse on the flat 35 yards ’from the winning post, when , lie had the 1956 Grand National shot to pieces. But it I does not show. i “He (Devon Loch) pricked ’this ears as we passed the ’ water jump, which we had jumped earlier in the race. i The din was terrific in expectation of a popular Royal I victory, and he went down, perhaps in a reaction to it. i And while I was still sitting I on him he was sprawling

there helpless. We would have still won if he had! been all right, but his hind quarters refused tc act, and the other horse struggled by to victory,’’ Francis recalled yesterday. “With time I have become; more philosophical about it. For everyone can remember’ the horse that didn’t win But how many remember: the horse that did? ’ —: (E. 5.8. On his tour of the Riccarton racecourse yesterday Dick Francis lingered at Catts’s, and had a long appreciative look at the live fence and brush near the 11800 metres “Real fences,

like many we have at home,’' lie said “Just as well — they are. not jumping courses like this every Saturday in New Zealand — there wouldn’t be .much for the moderate horse." FIRST VISIT Dick Francis is on his lust visit t* New Zealand, and regrets he will not be going racing on one of the metropolitan courses. But he plans to walk over picturesque Ellerslie before he starts his journey home by Way of Hong Kong. Already, he feels, he has a rich store of experiences from his journeyings in Aus tralia and New Zealand to pass on to his old friend. Lord Norrie a former Gov ernor-General of New Zea land and one of the keenest of racing owners during his term of office in this coun try. In the picture Dick Francis (at right) has a close look at Cuttss' Brush at Riccarton yesterday. He was shown over the course by the Canterbury .Jockey Club’s racecourse manager; Mr Frank Evans (shown at left). T.A.B. (x»des Bay of Plenty NN Franklin F® Geraldine CT G v Wood* die Ma Wyndhjm