TURF

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12252, 6 April 1935, Page 11

TURF

WHEN ;A; CAB- HORSE .WON .THE GRAND NATIONAL

STORIES OF OUTSIDERS AT AINTREE.

The “most open race in the world'’ is the general opinion oi' the race and the Grand National at Aintree justifies its reputation. Hot, favourites valued at thousands of. pounds have failed to complete the course; rank outsiders have romped home. The National is a sporting rac© in that the result is always in doubt until the last fence. Tho horse Chandler first attracted the attention of a racing nobleman by his extreme ugliness. Seeing him •in a fairmer’s stable the nobleman remarked that the fiddle-headed brute was the ugliest he had ever seen, but when he saw the farmdrudge’s remarkable jumping powers he paid a substantial sum for him,: and. ironically named , him Chandler, because lie had ' begun his career bv drawing a chandler’s cart. Chandler won the Grand National 87 years ago, but; his greatest feat was in a steeplechase at W'aiwick. when be cleared a jump of 39ft. Three years previously the race had been won by a horse named Cure-all, who-was so little fancied that-lie was not oven mentioned in the betting. In 1800 the winner -twos the oilspring of a coach horse. While rid-, ing in the coach a breeder near Shrewsbury was struck by the mare’s action, and he purchased her on the spot. Abd-el-Kader was the result, and this horse’s ability was proved by the fact that he won the classic steeplechase twice in succession. Another National winner, The Lamb was offered for sale for £25, but lio had no takers, one of the experts remarking that he was not strong enough to carry a, couple of hoots. A veterinary surgeon worked wonders and the horse was heavily backed for the race. The support he received, however, was duo to superstition rather than confidence in his ability, for just as a train of excursionists arrived at Liverpool a lamb jumped out! of a truck and raced down the track, avoiding all attempts at capture. This tip- resulted in hundreds of pounds being put on the horse, and lie romped home to victory. Like The Lamb, Salamander was an Irish horse. He was hawked ata dozen fairs, and at last was sold for £35, “as sorry a bag of bones as was ever seen.” But be proved too good for many horses whose licble ancestry figured in the Stud Book, and by his victory in the Grand National alone won £30,C00 for his owner. No winner of the Grand National had a more romantic career thoau Rubio, who was successful in 1908. If Nat Gould had written a story based on Rubio's -adventures he would probably have been accused of drawing the long bow. Rubio came from the United States, and changed hands for 15 guineas at Newmarket. He jwas so little fancied that he was lent to the proprietor of an inn o,t Towccstqr, and then be drew the ’bus to anj from the station. After some time he was tried at racing again, and after he had. won one or two small events he proved an easy winner of the Grand National at 06 to 1. His jockey, H. B. Bletsoe, was riding in the Grand National for the first time. Even in recent years the Grand National has not infrequently been rvou by a horse that “lia-dn t a chance.” Double Chance was considered to be useless for fiat, racing by Mr Anthony de Rothschild, and was given to Fred Archer. For some fame he was used as a hunter, but ultimately he was entered for the Grand National anj he won. Master Robert also began his career as a hunter. ’There is no horse that has not a chance at Aintree. Voluptuary bad never run in a- steeplechase before his victory in the Grand National; Aimitis had not jumped for a year; Poctlilyn, who won tbe Grand National for a woman owner, changed 'hand’s for a £lO note.

LENGTH OF STIRRUPS

RIDING SHORT PREFERRED

The possibility that some falls in steeplechases are due te the practice of jockeys riding with ’short leathers has become an interesting topic for discussion in racing circles in England (says “Sporting Lite”), and at a, recent meeting Jack Fawcus, who not long ago was an amateur rider but who now ranks as one of the best of oui' professionals, was asked liis opinion on the subjects. .“When I began as a youngster/’ said 'Fawcus, “I rode at hunting length, hut found that my feet were catching on the jumps, and that start-, ed nie to ride shorter. “Some very good advice was given to me by :tlie Ayr trainer, John McGuigan, fer whom I rode Nigger Minstrel HI., a big, heavy horse who never took a fence more than halfway up. John instructed me to shorten my leathers until my knees. were level with, or almost above, the top of. the isadjle. It proved satisfactory, as in this position I was able to hold the liori.'c up and steady him sufficiently to stay; the distance, three miles seven furlongs, and win by a fence.: “In those days I was riding as an amateur, and as I had not ban a deal of experience, I started experimenting, using different lengths .of leather . Finding that no twp horses were alike I varied my leathern according to the animal, some times as much as two holes. “I am convinced that tile short leather is distinctly advantageous Over fences and hurdles, on account of the pace at which races arc now run.” . Another strong advocate of the short leathbr is Major Noel Furlpiig. whose soil, Mr F- Furlong, is a, prominent amateur rider. He said: “I think that, on the whole, steeplechase riders of to-day are betttef thah they were thirty years ago-. Using the short leather has been so successful that it is nbfc surprising one never sees long stirrups out racing in these days.” ’ ■ "

PUBLIC JOCKEY No. 1. DUNCAN’S MANTLE FALLS ON KEITH VOITRE “Just at a time when the standard Of riding was at low ebb, Victoria has unearthed a lightweight to take the place of Billy Duncan, who for years was a public idol. ‘The former New Zealander Keith Voitre, lias been riding winners at almost every appearance, and has become tho jockey of the hour” (stated “Ascot” in the Sporting Globe)- ‘ ‘WILL HE! EVER WIN?” it Prominent racing men secure some queer correspondence, and a letter from a punter at Yackandandah, Victoria, addressed to “The Owner of Nord,” and received at Sydney Taterisall’s Club, ranks with the best; “I would be very pleased if you would let me know when Nord is ever likely to win a race,” the letter read. “I am in the habit of backing one horse until it does win, and I have practically gone, broke at 5/- and 10/- at a time. I wouldn’t like paying your bill feeding him. Wishing you tho best of luck and happy return to fortune.” Perhaps the most humorous ■of all letters was that received from a pig farmer in South Australia, by a leading Sydney racing pressman. ‘‘l have been backing Yultewirra, using pigs as money,” tbe farmer wrote, “and I have only two pigs left. Do you think I should risk my last pigs and'hack Yultewirra at his next c/Tart?” Whether he put his pigs to the toss is unknown, but Yultewirra won in his next outing. NOTES AND NEWS Croupier was offered at auction in Sydney prior to being sent back to New Zealand, but there was little demand for him, and he passed in at SCgns. * * m An interesting entrant for the New Plymouth meeting is Seamond. who is now trained at Stratford after a lengthy retirement. Seamond will always be remembered by Hawera track iwatcbers as the ‘circus” horse, for when in work there some years back, she ivould have done credit to any sideshow, writes “Childers” in the “Hawera Star.” a result of some obscure skin disease, she had not a single hair on her body, presenting a truly grotesque appearance. It is recalled that on one occasion it was endeavoured to fix a false tail on the freak. Her “wig” was a splendid! one and all was plain sailing until she went down f°r her preliminary, when, much to the amuse ment of the spectators, horse and tail parted company. * * * Taking a line through Cuddle the Canterbury Jockey Club handicappe l would' appear to have J akmi a- risk in letting Inflation into the Great Easter Handicap with 8.6 (says the New Plymouth writer. “Hurry On”! On the lost occasion on which Cuddle and Inflation met. the last day of the Mauawatn summer meeting, inflation save his rival 10 pounds and an easy beating over eight and a half furlongs in tho fast time et 1.46. In the Easter Cuddle is asked to give Inflation eight pounds, thus meeting him on 1.8 pounds woi-so terms than when lie beat her previously. Even remembering that Cuddle has won three races over a distance in. the interval, she appears rather harshly treated as compared with Inflation, twlio would only have to he produced at something like his best to have a rare chance in the Riccarton race