BIG PRIZE WINNERS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 91, 14 October 1931, Page 6

BIG PRIZE WINNERS

INTERESTING FIGURES

Figures bearing on the prize-money won by horses carrying the colours of leading Australian owners, recently published by the "Sydney Eeferee," furnish material for much thought by demonstrating in pointed manner the marked increase in prize-money during the past 30 years, says "Phaeton.' The leading owners are placed on the winning list in the following order:

Mr. E. E. D. Clarke (Vie.) .. 150,336 Mr. E. J. Watt (N.Z. and Aust.) 130,302 Mr. Jas. White (N.S.W.) .. 122,205 Mr. John Brown (N.S.W.) .. 112,150 Mr. E. E. D. Clarke, who heads the Australian list, has raced only on a moderate scale, and his successes have been registered by horses that he bred himself. Trivalve, who won £28,375, was Mr. Clarke's most noteworthy winner.

Mr. E. J. Watt, being a native of New Zealand, would, strictly speaking, be entitled to. be ranged among owners hailing from this Dominion. Many years ago, however, he became a resident of Australia, and, his chief interests being centred in the Commonwealth and his racing activities now entirely confined to that quarter, he is placed with the Australian division. The pvize-money earned by horses carrying Mr. Watt's colours is made up o£ £53,605 won in New Zealand and £76,C97 won in Australia. In regard to New Zealand, the late Sir George Clifford's winning total stands at the head of the list, and the interesting feature in connection therewith is that his operations were entirely confined to the Dominion. Sir George Clifford raced horses prior to the opening of the present century, but it will suffice to take the three decades extending from 1900 to 1930, and the figures attaching to the winnings in prize-money by horses carrying the yellow and blue chequers during that period amount to over £172,000. Mr. G. D. Greenwood, who is second on the' list, has raced on extensive lines since 1008, and the winnings of his horses in Australia have served to build up an impressive winning total, Gloaming, who was bred in Australia, alone capturing £43,100. ■ ' The sum won in prize-money by horses that carried the colours of the late Mr. G. G. Stead figures below what might have been expected considering the magnitude of his operations. He raced 114 horses during his career, and he was represented on the Australian Turf on many occasions, furnishing several winners in important events. The stake-money raced for was nothing like up to that of the last ten years. For instance, when Noctuiform won the Australian Jockey Club's Derby under Mr. Stead's colours in 1905, the portion allotted to the first horse amounted to only £1022, whereas last year £6893 went to the owner of the winner.

The following are the figures attached to the winnings in stakes credited to New Zealand sportsmen:—

£ Sir George Clifford 172,627 Mr. G. D. Greenwood 169,475 Mr. G. G. Stead (approx.) .. 100,000

Although Mr. H. A. Knight's name is not included among the owners whose winnings ran to six figures, he has the leading record in New Zealand and Australia under another heading. Limerick and Ballymena, who were bred and raced by him, captured prize money to the amount of £53,174. The two horses named were the produce of Medley, a daughter of the Irish-bred sire Singlestick.