RACING NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23393, 7 January 1938, Page 11

RACING NEWS

By Sentinel A Good Run The Takanini trainer, F. Smith, saddled six winners at the Auckland Cup meeting. Cerne Abbas It was reported that Cerne Abbas will be taken over for the Randwick autumn meeting. The Vincent J.C. Meeting Acceptances for the first day of the Vincent Jockey Club’s meeting are due to-morrow (Saturday) at 7 p.m. Te Hero There is a possibility that Te Hero will be raced at the Wellington Cup meeting, where he claims an engagement in the Wellington Strikes. Royal Chief On his return to Riccarton, L. J. Ellis stated that Royal Chief was suffering from soreness, which prevented him from racing up to his best form. A Record r The New Zealand mile record supplanted when Courtcraft recorded Imin 36sec in the King’s Plate at Ellerslie was Imin 36 3-ssec, made by Thespian and Karipoti. both at Ellerslie. The Australian record, Imm 35Jsec, is held by Peter Pan. Something Wrong

The bad smash at Randwick recently, which resulted in the death of that fine little fellow Maxie Papworth, has caused a good deal of discussion since (says the Sydney Mail), some maintaining that 25 is too large a field for any, race, and others being of the opinion that stricter supervision should be observed before apprentices are granted permission to ride in races. Steve Donoghue

Altogether, Donoghue was on the backs of 15 of England’s classic winners, which include the Two Thousand, One Thousand, Derby, Oaks, and St, Leger; and these successes place him a joint fourth on the list of jockeys during the last 60 years. Fred Archer has the highest number with 21, followed by J. Watts 19, J. Childs 16, and G. Fordham and S. Donoghue 15 each. Apart from these important successes, Donoghue, as mentioned before, won every worth-while race in England and Ireland, as well as the Grand Prix de Paris.

Caught Napping Admiral Rous is considered to have been the greatest handicapper ever to have officiated in that capacity. His boast was that, given the opportunity of witnessing a costermonger’s donkey and a Derby winner galloping on the Newmarket course he would so handicap them that no more than a cigars length would separate them at the finish of a race. But Lord Calthorpe caught the Admiral napping one July afternoon at the Newmarket summer meeting, just before a race was decided in which his Lordship was represented. “ Well, Admiral, do you think my horse has a chance here? ’’ asked Calthorpe. “ Not the remotest,” promptly came the reply. “Then pray send in your resignation to the Jockey Club,” sarcastically rejoined the noble owner. “ You framed tbe handicap, and if the best vou can do is to weight a horse out of the race with such certainty it is time a change of officials took place! ” The Best Effort

Opinions naturally differ as to the race in which Steve Donoghue was seen to greatest advantage during his long career, but a writer in the London Observer says:—“ I haye seen Donoghue win nearly all his chief races. If I were asked to name the most brilliant he has ever ridden I would select his effort on Humorist in the Derby. I question whether any other jockey riding at that time would have won on Mr J. B. Joel’s colt, Stanley Wootton, himself a fine jockey in his day, and a sound judge of raceriding, exclaimed to me after that race, ‘ Donoghue was inspired: it was a miracle of race-riding.’ When his fellow jockeys gave Steve his farewell dinner a few weeks ago the Hon. George Lambton. another great judge of raceriding, also made special reference to Donoghue’s riding of Humorist.” A Popular Meeting

Coming events cast their shadows before and the popularity of the Vincent Jockey Club’s annual race meeting, which takes place next week, is shown by the fact that it has been a topic for talk for some time past in sporting circles. Those who have attended the meeting in the past are keen to go again, and the interest aroused creates new patrons. This year the programme has attracted record nominations, and consequently there should be an attractive card for each day. The track is reported to be carrying a good sole of grass as the result of more extended irrigation, and hence owners will find # their interests have been studied as far as possible. Saving the Situation In commenting on the Oamaru meeting the Press said it was feared at one time that the principal event would be contested by two horses only, as it was thought likely that Queen Dorothy won lid” be reserved for her shorter engagement, and the owner of Dictate had- telephoned instructions not to start the horse, as he considered he would be again beaten by High Glee. As a result, however, of representations made by a member of the committee. Dictate was saddled up, and Queen Dorothy, one of whose owners was .recently elected to the committee, also remained in. Although there were only four starters, there was good money for each candidate, and the four horses were covered by less than two lengths at the post. Queen Dorothy was also started in the Flying Handicap as a sporting gesture on the part of her owner, and she recorded a popular win. A Great Record The progeny of Limond have an outstanding record in the number of their victories in classic events, the latest addition being the success of Courtcraft tn the Great Northern Derby. The 34 successes in classics by Limond’s pro-

geny comprise the following, as compiled by “ Phaeton Commendation —New Zealand Derby, Great Northern Derby, New Zealand St. Leger, Great Northern St. Leger, Hawke’s Pay Guineas, Avondale Guineas. Agrion, New Zealand Derby. Honour, New Zealand Derby. Cylinder—Wanganui Guineas, Avondale Guineas, New Zealand Derby. Mask, New Zealand St. Leger. Spiral, New Zealand St. Leger. Lady Pam—Hawke’s .Bay Guineas, New Zealand St. Leger, Great Northern Oaks. Praise, New Zealand Oaks. Variant, New Zealand Oaks. Ammon Ra, A.J.C. Derby. Theo—A.J.C. Derby Caulfield Guineas, Victoria Derby. Waikare, Queensland Derby. Limerick, A.J.C. St. Leger. Veilmond, V.R.C. St. Leger, A.J.C. St. Leger. Damaris, Wanganui Guineas, Great Northern Oaks. Masquerader, Dunedin Guineas. Limarch, V.R.C. St. Leger (dead-heat), A.J.C. St. Leger. Golden Hair, V.R.C. Oaks, New Zealand Oaks. Courtcraft, Great Northern Derby,

In-breeding Those who regard in-breeding as a mistake and detrimental to the general welfare of the thoroughbred have something to ponder over in connection with Te Hero, who has proved a particularly smart colt and probably the best of the day. Te Hero Is said to be a particularly fine colt in conformation. He is strongly inbred to Stockwell, whose fame as a sire made him known as “ The Emperor of Stallions.” Te Hero inherits the Stockwell strain through Bend Or and Cyllene. Strange to say, although strongly inbred to the chestnut Stockwell Te Hero is a bay. He was got by Heroic from Prodice, by Catmint —Hyades, by Hymettus Straga, by Birkenhead — Witchet, by Sir Lancelot—Elflock, by Nordenfeldt. A strain of Stockwell is picked up through Nordenfeldt’s dam, and Elflock, Sir Lancelot. Birkenhead, Hymettus (inbred to Stockwell) and Catmint each supply an inbreed of Stockwell. Heroic, the sire of Te Hero, wsis got by Valais from Cheronese and so Inherits seven strains of Stockwell and probably one or two more if one had time to delve deeper into the pedigree.

The,Holiday Meetings From one end of the Dominion to the other the various fixtures held during the Christmas and New Year were almost without exception a great success. The stewards of the various clubs acting as hosts to the sporting public provided a fare that attracted record attendances and the financial interest in the sport is shown by a greatly increased turnover on the totalisator. As far as Otago and Southland are concerned, the sporting public made an excellent response to the programmes provided for their participation. The clubs gave owners attractive stakes, and although some of the fields at Oamaru and Waikouaiti were on the small side, the attendances at both meetings resulted in proving that there was plenty of money about. The attendance on the first day at Wingatui was the best ever seen on the course at a Christmas meeting, and the same remark applies to that on the second day. The attendance at Wyndham appeared to be a record, and Invercargill kept well in line in that respect. The racing seen at Wingatui, Wyndham. and Invercargill was of a very high standard, and the promise of good sport indicated by the cards for each meeting was no doubt greatly responsible for the increased attendances. The general result augurs well, as each club is almost sure to issue an increasingly attractive programme in the future. At the Racing Conference held in July last an official intimation was given out that the result of all inquiries was to be posted in the press room. This has been honoured far more in the breach than the observance. Cases of interference took place at some of the recent meetings, and if any official investigation took place the information was not in every case officially notified to the press. This is not according to the instructions issued by the Racing Conference. The public is entitled to all possible information, particularly, when it applies to a strongly-supported horse that receives a rough passage. When no official intimation has been supplied, the public assume that it has escaped notice, and so makes strong comment on the apparent lack of control over racing. In Australia the observations of the stipendiary stewards are posted for publication, and hence the public becomes aware why a horse is left at the post and of any cases of interference, crossing, or questionable riding. Such information goes to establish the capability of the paid officials, and naturally when official silence is maintained those principally concerned lay themselves open to a charge of apparent incapability. Apart from that, interference imparts an unnecessary danger to racing. The first half of the racing season has just concluded, and for the benefit of the sporting public and the general interests of racing it is to be hoped that the request of the Racing Conference will be more strictly observed in the future. Left at the Post Supporters of two horses in the Christmas Handicap at Caulfield op Boxing Day, which was won by Amiable. did not get a run for their money Just before the start, Sir Grey and Brown Ben galloped along the back of the course without their riders. They were captured. Sir Grey being mounted by the jockey R. Duffus and Brown Ben being led back by a clerk of the course. However, Mr R. Greene did not wait for their return to the starting post and sent the rest of the horses away. As soon as the race was over holders of tickets on Sir Grey, who was well supported, and Brown Ben gathered near the totalisator. expecting their money to be returned When it was learned that both horses had been officially ruled out as starters much criticism was levelled against the starter for sending the field away without them, Mr Greene reported to the stewards that both absentees lost their riders at the barrier. Sir Grey stood quietly at the machine at first; then he reared and dislodged C. McLauchlan from Brown Ben and also got rid of his own' rider A. Reed. Sir Grey then tried to savage the two jockeys McLauchlan receiving bruises and lacerations to the right hand. The stewards informed Mr A. G. Hunter, owner of Sir Grey, that, on account of the colt’s bad behaviour at the barrier, they would not permit him to race in the» metropolitan area in future.