RACING AT TWO YEARS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20626, 26 July 1930, Page 11

RACING AT TWO YEARS.

IS IT DETRIMENTAL?

AN INTERESTING STUDY,

LIST OF NOTED PERFORMERS

BY PHAETON

Periodically tho winter reason finds students of racing casting their thoughts on that much-discussed question, the racinii of two-year-old horses. Tho varied opinions ontcrtained on tho question and the res.ilfs that havo followed tho early or tho late debut of tho youngsters on tho turf invest tho subject with a special interest. There aro somo men who are dead against the racing of two-year-olds at any period: others who stoutly contend that tho " babies" should not bo raced before tho autumn; then there is tho bis; division of moderates, who, seeking to strike tho happy medium, name November 1 as tho starting-point at which tho two-year-olds should be brought out for tho first time; and, lastly, those who would place 110 bar on tho racing of n youngster in tho month of September.

In numerous cases good results have, no doubt, followed tho non-racing of a horSe at two years old. but still a fairly lons list of celebrated performers can bo produced to show that a still campaign at two years old has not had a detrimental effect, although in many cases it might validly bo contended that tho horses would havo liad a more extended racing career bad they not been raced as youngsters. With regard to tho early racing of two-year-olds, everyone knows that thero are somo horses of medium growth who come to hand quickly, and possibly under such conditions 110 great harm results in racing them in September, but, with valuable stakes being offered, owners aro unduly encouraged to test overgrown youngsters early in tho season, whereas a proper courao to pursuo would bo to leave them alone until tho autumn. Advocates of unrestricted two-year-old racing can, no doubt, cite a number of performers who ran early as youngsters and who subsequently earned marked distinction, but it can also bo strongly argued that somo of the number would probably havo lasted a good while longer on tho turf had they been left alono at two years old. Case 0! Grand Flaneur.

Tako the case of unbeaten Grand Flaneur. That brilliant son of Yattendon carried all before him at two and thrco years old, but ho lasted only to the early autumn of his three-year-old career, when leg troubles necessitated his retirement. What about Carbine, who raced at two years old, and who was at tho top of his form at five years old? I fancy I hear someone ask. Well, thero is this about Carbine; Ho was not required to race until the iniddlo of December, and only five races were exacted from him at tho juvenile stage of his career. Had Carbine been knocked about at two years old, tho great record attached to " tho wonderful bay" might not have been written.

Another point in connection with tho tinduo racing of two-year-olds is whether it serves to sap them of stamina for distanco racing. It cannot bo disputed that thero is a very great preponderance of sprinters and milers over thosa capable of galloping a longer distance, and, considering tho highclass sires available, this should not be so.

English Authority's Views,

Tho two year-old question is not a new one by any means. Over 50 years ago a noto of alarm was struck in England, and, although certain restrictions were imposed, the influences at work have been too great for tho reformers to combat. " Stonhenge." tho great English authority on the thoroughbred and on racing, says:— "Tho laws regulating growth and decay aro immutable, and it niav almost always bo pronounced that in proportion to the quickness of tho growth will bo tho early decay of tho animal or vegetablo being Thus the oak i 9 more lasting than the larch end the elephant outlives tho horse. And it will be found that, whether in tho casa of tho greyhound, tho horse, the aheep, or tho bullock, those animals that como to maturity the earliest are the first to decay. Ilence, while tho breeder has his attention drawn to tho production of colts that aliall at two years of age bo formed like old horses and be fit to compete with them over short distances, it will always result that ho obtains his end at considerable sacrifico of durability, as evidenced in the diminished strength of the constitution and the fteble and yielding naturo of the organs of locomotion. The timber, in fact, instead of being oak, is deal, and is as littlo to be compared in durability with the materials of which old-fashioned horses wero composed as the latter timber is with tho former."

An Interesting Record

It is interesting to turn to tho records nf the past to ascertain tho exact date at which horses who achieved noteworthy famo in after years made their .debut under tilk. Tho following is » list of horses who ran their first race in New Zealand and tho number of engagements fulfilled at two years old

No. of Horse- First Raco. Races. Kelson November 7 .. 5 Trenton ~ .. November 10 .. i Maxim ~ December 27.. 4 Carbine «, December 10 ~ 5 Manton .. January 2.. 3 Stepniak .. November 0 .. 10 St. Hippo .. .. December 20 . . 5 Whnknwatea .. October 5 ..21 Multiform .. ~ November 9.. 11 Etiroclydou ». November 0. . 0 S'eahorno ~ .. November 5.. 12 Advance .. .. January 21 .. 0 Mensclnkoff ~ November 3 .. 15 Cruciform .. November 3.. fl Nonctlo September 15 9 Wniriki January 1 ..3 Gladsome .. October 8 ..10 Achilles ~ November 9.. 5 Wnmtcp .. «. October 9 ..7 Desert Gold .. October 21 ..12 Sasanof . . .. Novembor 8 .. 8 Winning Hit Octobor 23 .. 12 Amythaa .. .. October 2(1 .. 12 The Ilav.-k .. .. October 23 .. 10 Surveyor .. .. October 20 ..11 Gold Light .. .. January 3 ..9 Kapino .. .. March 10 8 Count Cavotir .. October 11 .. 5 Star Stranger .. January 1 ..4 Limerick . . .. October 20 .. 9 Nightmarch .. October 13 .. 9 Concentrato October 21 .. 14

Not Raced as Youngsters,

In Iho old days quite a number of noteworthy horses were to bo found who had not been raced at two years old, but nowadays not many are allowed to enjoy tho oats of idleness at that age." The Aucklandbred Martini-Henry, who won tho V.R.C. Derby and Melbourne Cup of 1883, was not called upon to carry ailk until ho had attained tho ago of three years, and tho same policy was pursued with Nordenfeldt, winner of tho A.J.C. Derby and V.U.C. Derby of 1885 Bobrikoil ia another noteworthy ono who was not required to raco at two years old, and, coming down to recent times, tho Derby winners, Gloaming and Cupidon, aro included in the list of horses who were allowed to reach the ago of three years old before facing the starter.

RACING FIXTURES

July 2G—South Canterbury Hunt Club. August 2—Chrißtchurch Hunt Club. August Poverty Day Hunt Club, August li, 14, IG—Canterbury Jockey Club, August 23—Pakuranga Hunt Club. August 23—Hawke'B Bay Hunt Club. August 27—Dannevirke Racing Club. August 28—Dannevirke Hunt Club. September o—Taranaki Hunt Club. September 6—Otago Hunt Club. September G—Marton Jockey Club,