EPINARD IN U.S.A.

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 63, 11 September 1924, Page 12

EPINARD IN U.S.A.

THE INTERNATIONAL RACES,

The three races arranged hi America between Epinard and the American cracks have aroused a good deal of interest. In the first of these decided last week over .a six furlong course, the Frencti horse was beaten by Wise Counsellor. The latter is a three-year-old, anii as a youngster gave great promise ! and won several good races. It was expected that he would play a prominent part in the classic races this season, but unfortunately went wrong and could not be trained for the Derbies. He split his hoof badly, and his owner was so dispirited about it that he thought of retiring Wise Counsellor to the stud. Evidently Wise Counsellor made unexpected improvement, and he certainly must have been doing well to start a better favourite than Epinard. Just p#ior to the arrival of Epinard in America the Special Commissioner of the London "Sportsman" received the following from a New York racing man: "As,to the older horses, we have nothing, as Zev has been ailing with his legs —bad pasterns—and will hardly be able to run again soon unless the tracks get soft, which at present seems very improbable. The three-year-olds are a very good lot—much'better than Zev was last year. Mad- Play, Lordkin, and Bencadale—all by Fair Play—are undoubted^ ly the best since St. James, by Ambassador, who stood out by himself, and. is, I think, one of the finest-looking horses I ever saw, with all the great quality of the best Hamptons—very much lika Gay Crusader, but with a little more middle-piece. So you will see that when Epinard comes over he will meet several good three-year-olds, and I doubt 'if he can baat them, for all these colts I have wonderful speed, though I question | whether .any of them could-get a mile and a quarter, as the horses are well trained for speed here, ar^l there are ! very few races over even one mile. As | for the race meetings, they are extraordinary. The daily attendance at Belmout Park was over 40,000 people," and on Eoine days must have been nearly 100,000. This is a beautiful racecourse, but the others! In England the Jockey Club would not grant them a license. They need some new racecourses very badly, and I am sure ' the proprietors of the Jamaica Aqueduct and Empire City tracks will be wise if they make a move soon, before some new companies spring up, which will be sure to come in this home of competition." The Special Commissioner adds:—"All I can say in reference to the above is that, if Epinard can be sent to the post really at his best, I don't believe any of the American colts can beat him, for the longest of the three races is only a mile and a quarter, and it would seem that they are no better qualified to stay that distance than he is. The unfortunate ad,venture of Papyrus throws no light whatever on the prospects of Epinard, who i has done little racing this year, and is going over, to New York at the best time of the year. Of course, the dirt tracks must always present a very serious problem in the event of bad weather, but Eugene Leigh is an American trainer and understands all about that. Moreover, he will have plenty of time to school Epinard in the use of calkins and toe clips in an emergency. This Basil Jarvis had no chance of doing with Papyrus. I thoroughly believe that Epinard's true course is six to seven furlongs, and if he could really stay further he must have won last year's Cambridgeshire, having regard to the lead he had obtained in the Dip, which was done by his jockey springing him down the hill from the Bushes. Any coachman will know how this ought to have carried him up to the winning, post if he had a kick left in him, but it just failed. However, as against opponents who are no better stayers than himself he will probably .win. in America, thanks to superior speed." /