THE LUCK OF BREEDING AND RACING HORSES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15169, 7 December 1912, Page 10

THE LUCK OF BREEDING AND RACING HORSES.

The past racing season In England brought out in pointed style that luck plays a very prominent part in racing matters* for the sportsman (Mr. T. Pilkington) who top-

ped the winning owners' list races on a very E-mail scale. Tho luck that came to Mr. Pilkington at tho very outset of his racing career was in getting hold of a crack in tho ~[ shape of Prince Palatine, whoso solo winnings (£20,822) it was that placed his owner at tho head of the winning list this year. When a man with practically only one horse in training tops the list in England, such opens up room for a deal of thought; and the caso of the Duko of Portland rapidly comes to mind. In the 80's and 90's norses carrying the colours of Hi 3 Grace put up great records, and in one your alouo they captured no less a sum than £73,858. Those were the days whon Dame Fortunes smiled on tho " white jacket black sleeves and cap." Then came frowns from the fickle jade, and despite the fact that the Duko of Portland holds one of the finest studs in tho world at Welbeck, which included tho famous St. Simon and Carbine, few r:icc3 cf any note have gone down to his account for many years. During tho past -.ei.i.jn the Duke of Portland did not furnish the winner of one race of note, and it would seem safe to conclude that the cloud which has hung no persistently round his colours during recent years is still in evidence.