EARLY CAULFIELD CUP.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 82, 5 March 1935, Page 10

EARLY CAULFIELD CUP.

WHEN 16 HORSES FELL.

J. Williams, a veteran Caulfield trainer whose death is reported from Melbourne, never had a large team, but his name is stamped on Victorian turf history. For one thing ho trained Sister Olive to win the Melbourne Cup of 1921, and for another he rode Grace Darling to victory in the Caulfield Cup of 1885. The latter race will never bo forgotten while the sport continues in Melbourne, for it was responsible for the worst smash in the history of racing in Australia. There was a field of 41, and 16 horses came down through the one accident. The field was coming round tho home turn with a little over two furlongs to go when Too Too fell. Sardius camo down over him and then horse after horse fell. Claptrav, Tom Brown, Winchester, Prince Imperial, Lord Exeter, The Israelite, Despot, Impulse, Country Boy, Kingship, Tarpeia, Lucky Hit, Success, and Urara were the other horses to come down. Tho scene must have been fearful, Donald Nicholson, crack lightweight of the day. who was riding Lord Exeter, was kilied outright. Frank McGrath (Prince Imperial) and S. Cracknell (Kingship) wore so severely injured that no hope was held out for them. Among tho riders loss badlyhurt was the New Zealander, Iluxtable.# Urara was killed and other horses badly injured. Both Cracknell and McGrath made complete recoveries. Tho latter is well known to present-day racing folk as th trainer of Amounis, Denis Boy, and Pet'cr Pan. Cracknell, after he retired from tho saddle, became an orchardist, but race-carnival time found him in Melbourne, where his liWlc natty figure and long white beard made him conspicuous. Ho died a year or two ago.