DRASTIC NEW RULE

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 105, 27 January 1933, Page 15

DRASTIC NEW RULE

Described as Dangerous

ENGLAND’S MOVE

The stewards of tlie National Hunt Committee in England have issued a warning against tne starling of horses merely for schooling purposes; they have decreed that jockeys who do not complete the course must explain the reason therefor and also that horses must be ridden out for places. "1 do not agree with them,” writes the commentator "Rapier.” "First, because however admirable it may be in theory, it is not possible to take a hard and fast line and carry it out in practice. Secondly, there is a danger of being too highminded in these matters. 1 have yet to read of the Jockey Club making itself responsible for an exhortation to owners, trainers, and jockeys that on no account shall two-year-olds be started unless they are in fit condition to win. Yet, if experience is essential for two-year-olds as part of their education, how much more so is it for recruits to ’chasing and hurdling, when appearing in public for the first time or two, or even after a long absence from the racecourse? "The first three in the Free Handicap of the 1932 two-year-olds—Myrobella, Betty, and Brown Betty—did not win first time out, yet it is certain they benefited immensely from their experience of the racecourse. Racing in public must do ten times more for a raw hurdler or ’chaser than a school over a few hurdles or fences on the quiet and- familiar training ground. If I had paid a big price for a horse and when he first ran lie made a bad mistake, 1 should hate to see my joekey go blundering on with him without giving him time to recover and regain confidence, even if doing so put him out of tlie race. It would make all the dilference. A horse so considered would profit from his mistake. The horse unconsidered and scared would be nervous ami unhappy. "The riding-out instruction for. places is dangerously drastic. Merely the place backers on the totalisator shall be gratified, I should hate to see a game but exhausted horse flogged out in a scramble for a place. He has given of his best, and his powers have gone. The rider knows that, and if he be a sportsman as well as a man witli a whip, it will hurt him as much as it hurts the horse to sacrifice humane jockeyship for betting reasons

“The stewards should concentrate on restricting the latitude appropriated in recent times by the bigger stables, which have made no bones about putting a horse down the course one day, unbacked. of course, and sending it out to win a few days later when well backer!.” TE RAPA TRAINING Horses for Takapuna Te Rapa training centre will be represented at the Taknpuna meeting. Recent track work includes the following :— Belting (Goldsbro) hopped away with a slight advantage over Limex (11. Long) and held it to the close of a five-furlon_g trial on the plough that occupied 1.2 4-5. Both horses, who are temporarily in T. E. Wilson's charge, are looking exceptionally well, and Should pay expenses at the Takapuna meeting. There was not a great deal between King Ford (G. Connor) and Sinking Fund (A. Gilmer) at the end of three furlongs on the course proper, run in 37}see., King Ford, who may possibly be started on the second day at Takapuna, has not done a great deal of work, although he worked satisfactorily this momhiß. Sinking Fund will probably race a£ the Matanuua fixture. The King Nassau gelding (A. Gilmer) defeated Killader (G. Connor) over three furlongs! on the course proper in 38sec. Although he went out bandaged on both forelegs, Pagannclli (O. Mclnally) moved with all his usual freedom in traversing four furlongs on the plough in 4ftsec. The veteran was not going very fast in the early stages, but came home strongly, running the last three furlongs in 35sec. It was a good effort on the part of Paganellt, who, in spite of his weight, should give a good account of himself nt Takapuna. Ruby Meteor (A. Gilmer) and Sub-Edi-tor (G. Connor) worked steadily over one nnd a half miles, sprinting home the last three furlongs in 39sec. Both went wed. and finished on terms. Tradesman (N. Syme) , moved freely when given three-quarter pace work, and seems! to have thrown off all signs of tne soreness, that troubled him a short time ago. However, there is a doubt about his Egmont trip unless there is more rain. Welcome Lu, who may accompany Tradesman to tlie Egmont meeting, also hit out nicely, and seems! to be on the improve. „ , , Serviceable tasks were performed by several others, including Ruby Dawn. Twenty-four Carat, The Pullet, Gay Duke, Wilton and Trowbridge. OLD STUD TO GO Otatara Dispersal Sale Alluding to tlie dispersal sale of tlie Otatara stud, fixed for to-morrow, "Hermit” writes: —• "This is probably the oldest remaining racing stud in Hawke’s Bay, for it IS well over sixty years since the late Mr. G. P. Donnelly. first commenced the breeding of racehorses. He was, like most Irishmen, a keen judge of .a good horse, with a predilection for jumpers, of which he has bred and raced many good ones, including two Grand National Steeplechase winners, Mangaohnne and Awahuri. He was never afraid to pay a good price when he wanted a good horse or brood marc. “He made a good deal when he purchased the imported horse Gold Reef (Bend’or —Crucible) as tlie head of tlie stud which he established at Otatara many years ago, and to mate with him he gathered together a very choice collection of well-bred mares, including Formula (full-sister to Multiform), Edith Cureton (a daughter of that great brood mare Frailty), Nymph (a descendant of another equally famous mare, Sylvia), Kapawai, Como, and many others. From this strong foundation he built up one of the most successful brood mare strains in tlie Dominion, and when lie imported the handsome Demosthenes (Desmond —Carlin) to mate witli the Gold Reef mares, he in a few seasons bred a host of winners of classic races and important handicaps.” BRIGHT OUTLOOK Good Year in England In reviewing the recent year's racing in Englund, the Manchester “Sporting Chronicle” said the position was very satisfactory, in fact, as compared with 1931, there was nothing like the same amount of retrenchment by owners. Unlike tlie previous year, nothing had been heard from time to time of different men retiring from ownership. "It is. perhaps, true,” adds the paper quoted, “that in these days there are not so many owners who race on tlie lavish scale that used to obtain, but it is also true that there are more people owning horses now than ever before. "One of the most encouraging features of tlie season was the result of the Doncaster bloodstock sales. The total for the week’s sales amounted to £162,750, as against that of £150,966 for last year. “These, sales provided several dramatic moments, notably when two millionaires and two millionairesses competed for possession of a yearling. They were the Aga Khan. Lord Glanely, Miss Dorothy Paget, nnd Lady Houston. Miss Paget won, paying the highest price of the week, £5250 for a colt by Tetratenia out of Portrait."