THE STEEPLECHASERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 144, 21 June 1938, Page 13

THE STEEPLECHASERS

i PESSIMISTIC NOTE

SOUTHERN CRITIC'S OPINION

The old-timer might well be excused for wagging his head and murmuring, "They don't breed 'em these days." Sad to relate, they don't, writes a Christchurch critic.

The steeplechaser of the present day is as often as not recruited from the ranks of the broken-down—horses that fail to stand up to the rigours of racing on the flat, or who are not just good enough to pay their way. The owner relegates the unfortunate to the scrap heap by selling him for a small sum for hacking purposes, and then by devious ways he often becomes a steeplechaser. EARLY RETURNS. This streamlined age must carry the burden of blame. Look at it whichever way you will, racing is a highlycommercialised business today, as far as 90 per cent, of the owners are concerned. They breed and buy for early speed and quick return, often burning their horses up before they reach maturity. The scrap heap follows. There are, however, a few owners who love nothing better than a jumper, and they are breeding along those lines. Mr. J. H. Grigg, of Longbeach, is a shining example, but he practically bears the torch alone.

In Flashlight Mr. Grigg has a young steeplechaser of promise who looked to have a successful career in front of him as a hurdler, but it is steeplechasers Mr. Grigg wants, and that is the game to which Flashlight has been assigned. It was a true sportsman's gesture to waive aside monetary considerations in following an ideal, and it was rewarded when Flashlight won at the first time of asking over a steeplechase course. . ■ , The weakness of good type steeplechasers at the recent Dunedin Meeting was emphasised on the final day, when the places in the Dunedin Steeplechase were all filled by horses who had shown up in the hack steeplechases earlier at the meeting. Ballybrit won from Burwood, with Quinopal in third place. . . Burwood and Ballybrit, both six-year-olds, sired by Woodend and Balboa respectively, are • definitely "finds" this season. » Burwood, after winning the Tahuna Hack Steeplechase on .the first day from Ballybrit. started in the Wingatui Steeplechase on the second day and defeated the Otago Steeplechase winner, Black Banner. Ballybrit, on the other hand, was beaten again in the hack steeplechase on the second day by Quinopal, but turned the tables on both his conquerors on the third day. The heavy state of the ground was all in favour of Ballybrit under his light weight, and though Burwood is the better of the pair on form to date, there is not much between them. They are gaining experience all the time, and. next season should be in the top flight. "COT" CASES. Trisox, one of the best jumpers in the south last season, broke down badly during the running of the Otago Steeplechase, and his racing career is probably finished. . _ . Just how good the field was Punchestown clearly showed, as, though he is far from being at the top of his form, his jumping carried him into second place. Funchestowri is now in the veteran stage and he finished the course a tired horse, but that was more than the rest could do. Signaller, an unsound hurdler on past performances, took third place in the Otago Steeplechase, but was also lame on returning,, and .was npt started again at the -meeting. His chances of gltting much further also look flenjter. Santoft, winner of the Wellington Steeplechase last winter, proved that he will need only to stand up to the work to play a prominent part in big races again this winter. He was obviously far from ready when he won the Pareora Steeplechase at Washdyke last month. It was expected that he would race at the Dunedin Meeting, but he was not produced. This is not a good augury for the future, as a horse that has to be "nursed" will have a lot against hirri in a big race. With a few exceptions -the Jumpers at Riccarton are little better than tfiose to be found further south. For some years now the decline in the calibre of the jumpers has .been most marked and though stronger, the position in the north is not much better. Lack of support may gradually see the big prizes for steeplechasers dwindle. . The . only solution of f vexed problem lies in an extenSiV The^utliy g aHnfwait for a suitableT return is a main argument against breeding of jumpers, but .there are enough owners in the game jealous of their reputations as sportsmen to ensure its success.