SPORTING U.S. TIME RECORDS ARE OFTEN INACCURATE

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 September 1950, Page 7

SPORTING U.S. TIME RECORDS ARE OFTEN INACCURATE

If a horse goes fast in America and breaks a record it is usually claimed as a world’s best, with total disregard for times established in England, Europe, or Australia. When Johnny Longden won the 10,000 dollars Pacific Handicap on Bolero at Golden Gate Fields (San Francisco) recently, his mount ran the six furlongs in 1.8 1-5. It was immediately hailed as a world s

record. Bolero’s time was nothing like a world record. This is held by the Broken Tendril gelding wno ran six furlongs in 1.6 1-5 at Brighton (England) In August, 1929. The Brighton track is downhill most of “‘0 W‘s, and there was a strong wind behind the gelding, but that does not change the fact that his time is the fastest ever recorded for six furlongs. Actually, Bolero’s record is not even an American record. Artful, in October, 1904, ran six furlongs at Morris Park in 1.8. Aurie’s Star Best The best Australian and New Zealand time for six furlongs is credited to Aurie’s Star, who at Flemington in September, 1940, ran the distance in 1.8;!. He had a gale of wind behind him, and the track was very fast, but he ran the time, and he holds the Australian record. , Several horses besides the Broken Tendril gelding have bettered 1.8 for six furlongs in England. Most of the fast times were on “easy” courses, such as Epsom and Manchester. That galloping phenomenon The Tetrarch once ran six furlongs in 1.7 3-5. There was good reason for the Americans to claim a world record for Black Douglas, a two-year-old colt who ran four and a-half furlongs at Belmont Park a lew weeks ago in 50 2-ssec. His time broke Preceptor’s figures of 51sec. This was one of the oldest records on the books; in fact, “Miller’s Guide” makes it the second oldest record —the oldest being Plater’s 1.2’ for 5! furlongs at Morris Park (U.S.A.) in 1902. The-best time ever in Australia lor four and a-half furlongs was 53sec, established by Gold Spear and Pretty Blue at Newcastle (N.S.W.) in 1937. The world’s record for four furlongs still belongs to Gloaming, who registered 45sec when he won the Kelburn Plate at Trentham. on January 22, 1921. Noor’s Figures Noor’s 1,58 2-5 for a mile and aquarter in the Golden Gate Handicap at the Golden Gates Field track (San Francisco) recently is an undisputed world’s record. The previous best

was 1.59 4-5,-. registered, by St Andrews II at Brighton (England) in June, 1939. The fastest., time fora, mile and a-efuarter in New Zealand is 2.2 4-5 by Bronze Eagle at Riccarton.

No American times, however, are comparable with those of New Zealand. Australia, arid England because in ail cases the clocks which time races in the U.S.A, do not begin to tick until the horses have travelled a lew strides. *

They do not time them from barrier rise, but actually when they are galloping. To all intents and purposes American times are made from flying starts. This method of timing makes a difference of perhaps a second. The advantage in, time gained by a horse galloping Up to the mark over one standing flat-footed is obvious.

Dunedin Rehandicap As the, result of yesterday’s win at Geraldirie Chasemint haS been rehahdicapped to 8-8 in the. Salisbury Handicap of. the second day of • the Dunedin Jockey Club’s meeting on Saturday.— (P.A.) Appreritide Faints On Scales When he got on the scales to weigh out for the. ride on Indiana in the President’s Handicap at O'rari yesterday, the Riccarton apprentice, ' J. T. Anderson (forrnerly of Blackball) fainted. After resting for a few minutes he got on the scales a second time, but again fainted. It.ivas then considered that it would be unwise for him to’ take the mount, arid the colours were given to E._ G. Low. Fully recovered, and unable to explain his fainting spells—he had not been “wasting”—Anderson saw. the race from the stand. He cheered Indiana as the Tiderace four-year-old finished strongly for third, the position he filled iri the Geraldine Cup on Saturday wheri Anderson rode him.