TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 4038, 4 August 1931, Page 51

TALK OF THE DAY.

By

Sentinel.

A THIRD TRY. Wiltshire’s third attempt to win the Grand National Steeplechase recalls the fact that only one horse, Agent, has won the race on three occasions. Agent won with 12.0 in 1879, with 12.7 in 1880, and again in 1886 with 12.6. Winning more than once is far more difficult now than in Agent’s time, as the pace is far more solid than in his day. It is an interesting fact that no time figures in connection with the triple success of Agent, and apparently the watch was a secondary consideration in those days. Mutiny won twice, in 1895 and 1896, but from his time to that of Coalition’s wins in 1920 and 1921 no other horse succeeded more than once. Coalition was a bit lucky with his second win, as Wahnai was well clear when he slipped when landing over - the last fence. Oakleigh won in 1922 and 1923, and Wiltshire, who did not run last year, won in 1928 and 1929. Wiltshire will not have nearly as much weight to carry when making his third attempt as Oakleigh, Coalition, or Mutiny did when they won for the second time. Wiltshire won both times in smart time, and came home in a manner suggesting that he could have done better if the opposition had been strong enough to fully extend him. The Day Comet gelding is a well-knit sort, and can negotiate the Riccarton country as well as any other horse. In all he has scored three times and ran third over Riccarton without taking any risks at a fence. He is not an extravagant jumper, but gets over with a minimum of exertion, I and does not beat himself by big jump- ' ing. He was capably handled on pre- I vious occasions by R. C. Syme, but will i have a different pilot this year. At ; present Wiltshire seems to be as good a favourite as anything, and he will probably retain the position up to the close of betting. THE NATIONAL MEETING. Another week will land us in the thick of the Grand National meeting, and it will, no doubt, as usual, draw its patrons from every part of the

country. The Grand National meeting makes a more widespread appeal than ariy other fixture on the Racing Calendar, the Grand National meeting is, of course, very fortunately placed in the fact that it holds an isolated position on the calendar, and occurs without any opposition. In fact, it is one of the few meetings so favourably situated. It has, in addition, an auxiliary attraction in the shape of three days’ light harness racing at Addington sandwiched between the cards for Riccarton. Excellent nominations were received in connection with both meetings,- and Riccarton has made one more successful step by securing splendid fields for the three principal events on the programme. The fields look quite satisfactory from a numerical point of view, and with the assistance of favourable weather some enjoyable spoit should be provided. Several of those at the minimum in the Grand National Steeplechase wall be troubled by the distance, and since the declaration of acceptances nothing has occurred towards ousting Wiltshire and Snowfall from popularity. The inter Cup looks a more open race, and in such a big field the luck of the di aw and the run in the race is a matter of importance. A horse must begin well and have sufficient speed and stamina to hold a favourable place in such a hard run race. Mahora, Charmeuse, and Knollmere continue to hold favour, and the track work during the present week will be watched with considerable interest. It may create a change of opinion, but there has been no reason to make an alteration in the opinions expressed at the declaration of the handicap. So far all the acceptors for the Grand National Hurdles stand their ground, and there is every prospect of a good’ field going to the post.’ High Pitch, Carinthia, and Conjurer II have a good following, and so will Singleton if he keeps sound and right. Of the others Antrim Boy may be regarded as one of the most likely outsiders in the field.

A SERIOUS SUBJECT. Government crippled, jeopardised, or killed a very large industry by excessive taxation, and in consequence threw hundreds of people out of work, it would be dismissed by the dictates’ of common sense. That is exactly what the Government is doing to-day in connection with racing and trotting. Both branches of sport provide hundreds of people with direct and indirect employment, and, nowadays, must be regarded more as an industry than a pastime. Hundreds of people depend for their living on racing and trotting, but instead of giving such a large source of em”loyment every encouraging consideration it is being seriously crippled by excessive taxation. During the season just concluded some clubs dropped their meetings rather than meet with a Aure loss. Ju one or two cases some clubs have displayed a small profit, but the annual balance sheets of the majority show a serious loss, and a continuation of such a state of affairs threatens to become a v ery serious matter. A sharp curtailment of racing and trotting would be followed by a large increase of the number ot unemployed. It would be far more serious than many imagine. There is a tremendous amount of capital sunk in racing and trotting and the breeding industry attached to them, and to render it comparatively unproductive would be a very grave matter indeed.

For the season of 1931-32 the trainers licensed number 323; the total number ot jockeys stands at 195; apprentice ion ejs t,o , ta ' 131 > and apprentices total 236—0 r about 900 in all. Stable hands would total at least another 400 throughout. the . Dominion, and, approximately, racing gives direct employment to 1300 people, many of whom would be unfit for heavy labour. There is probably about the same number or more employed in connection with trotting, and the various studs have also to be cfficiently staffed. Not less than about 2500 people are directly engaged in the training, riding,. driving, and as stable hands in connection with both branches of oport. The total number would probably run close to 3000 persons. Last season the number of horses in training totalled well over 2300, and at an average value of 200sovs a low estimate—represents close on half a million of money. The real average value would probably go to twice as much. A rough count of the marcs i ,n latest issue of the Stud Book shows a total of about 2200, and to balance the average of horses in training they are put in at the same value. This would run to another half a million, and so, at a moderate estimate, there is well over a million worth of brood mares and horses in training. To this has to be added the stallions (an important item), two-year-olds, yearlings, and other stock that so far do not come into the records. The records of trotting stock, horses in training, mares at stud, and stallions would also total a

yei > substantial sum, and altogether both branches of sport said industry represent an outlay of capital undreamt of bj T those who take little or no interest in what is really a national pastime and business. The amount of money sunk in racecourses and trotting tracks and their general equipment must run into figures that would astound people if they could be gathered and published. One has only to pass a moment's thought on what the principal racecourses cost to equip to gam only a faint idea of the tremendous expenditure they represent. This last outlay of capital and medium ot employment is being taxed out of existence, and if official figures were published on the lines indicated, those who can help might do more than promise to give the subject the stereotyped ’‘serious consideration.”

LAST DART. There is not much doubt that the Musket line would have been just about exI tinct in tail male if Carbine had not sired Spearmint. It is a case of the survl,va/. °f the fittest, and Spearmint, in addition to being a real racehorse, also proved himself a very successful sire. He got Royal Lancer, winner of the St. Leger; Spion Kop, a Derby winner in record tune; bpearwort, Ascot Stakes, two miles. Alexandra Plate, two miles six furlongs, ami the Newmarket Handicap two miles, with 9.6; Spike Island, a winner of the Irish Derby; and many other good winners, including Fclstead. a grandson, who also von the Derby. In Australia Spearmint horses have sired two Me’bourne Cup winners in Spearfelt and .Trivalve. Breeding to the most successful line of any strain is always a wise policy, and hence breeders are fortunate in having Last Dart a of Speaymint, and Ultima, bv Winkfield—Osy, by St. Simon, at tlieir disposal at very moderate fees. Last Dart was a very fast horse, but accident ended his turf career. His first crop of foals show plenty ot speed, and in time will, no uoubt, develop the stamina invariably identified with the line. Last March won three times and got placed in four other*as a two-year-old, and promises to develop into a more than useful three-year-old 1 apcr Dart is also another winner bv Last Dart, who has done well with very few representatives. Last Dart is tebred to Musket with infusions of Hampton and Barcaldine (Marco—Mar-ovil—Hurry Ou) as the dominant lines in his pedigree and such strains allied to attractive inbreed "ts s^ not be neglected by PALADIN. After a horse has been at the stud some few years the best line to his merit as a stalhon is provided by the stock representing him on the turf. That beinso breeders should have no hesitation in Patronising Paladin, one of the few sons of lolymelus at the stud. Paladin get Chide (New Zealand Cup. Stead Gold Cup Canterbury Cup, etc.), Charmeuse (Great Easter Handicap). Prince Paladin (one of the best in Western Australia). Satrap Arikiwai, Don Quixote, Duellona. Rabbi Kinglike, Sarnia, Stately, Toawai, Kakara Meprisant. Palada. and several others I ala din sired winners of close on 20 000 sovs from 1926 to 1930, exclusive of Aus trana. His sire, Polymelus, topped the list m England in 1914, 1915, 1916, 1920 and 1921. He is the sire of Phalaris. one ot the most successful sires in England and who got Fairway (St. Leger)7 and Pharos (sire Cameronian, Two Thousand Guineas and Derby), and so supplies unmistakable evidence of the line breeding on. I olymelus sired Derby winners in Pommern, 1* ifenella. Humorist, and his sons got others in Manna and Cameronian. His dani is a sister to Abbot’s Trace, one of the leading sires in England, so that 1 aladin has very successful strains on both sides. His dam was got by St Amant (Derby) a son of St. Frusquin. the most successful line of St. Simon. A good indication of how Paladin’s relationfare valued in England is supplied by the Ai-. 2 UK ™ fees tor the present season:— Abbots Trace (300gns). Pommern (400 gns), Phalaris (400gns), Po’yphontes (300 gns), and when Pharos stands in England next season he is bound to fill at 400-ms or oOOgns. PRICES OF YEARLINGS. During the past few years several fresh records have been created in the sale of yearlings in England, but it has to be stated that buyers have suffered disappointment in not a few instances, and the fillies division can bo si’ur'M out fop special reference. A trio sold by auction m England during recent years cost no • less a sum than 35,500gn5, the particulars i attaching to each lot being as follows:! Fete grey filly, by Tetratema— Confey jo qqq Gay Baby, bay filly, by Gay Crusader —Tete-a-tete 10,500 Heartsease, bay filly, by Gay Crusader—Love Oil 13,000

The three fillies named above were complete failures so far as racing was concerned. There is, of course, a possibility of them proving successes as brood mares, but, viewed from the financial standpoint, the respective owners have no great reason to rejoice over their speculations. The buyers are, however, wealthy

. men and they would not be troubled by Ik. financial aspect of the transaction, oir V ictor Sassoon was the buyer of Fete, the Aga Khan bought Gay Baby, and Mr D. Harmswortli bea. the opposition in the bidding for Heartsease. A high-priced filly sold for 10,OOOgns three decades a-o that proved a great speculation was Sceptre, the bay daughter ot Persimmon and Ornament. Sceptre won stakes to the value of £30.000 under Mr R. Sievier’s colours, and when sold at four years old £25,000 was the sum involved in the transaction. THE ART OF JOCKEYSHIP. “ Cut their reins and some of them will -won come off,” was a remark made to mby an owner at Epsom when we were watching the runners going out to a race there were the jockeys. rounded of back, knees touching chins, hands high, with no conrol over their horses. It was a sad sight, especially as we are a nation of horsemen (says William Fawcett in London Field), who pride ourselves that the noises of Britain are the cast m the whole world. And I do not think that it will be disputed that this country is the stud farm of the world. But we may well ask where are the jockeys of the present day? Do they compare favourably with Osborne, with Fordham, with the greatest of them all. Fred Archer. It is not an easy question to answer, for at the present time wo have jockeys who would hold their own in any me and in any country. The race that b. Fox rode on Cameronian was the best that has been seen in the Derby for many a long day. Everything was there, head, 1 hand, and brain. Nor must we forget that Stephen Donoghue is incomparable on the back of a two-yoar-old. His deli- i cate handling has. I think, never been surpassed. And over a distance of ground, when horses sweat and sob, when the winning post never seems to get any nearer. there is no one who possesses ■ , : ”ilgmcnt of pace than J who rides as first jockey for his Majesty tn. But these three leading jockeys oi our . own day coulj hardly be termed young | men. lhey have been riding in public 1 since before the war, and have all passed their fortieth year. They may go on riding in races for a long time yet—l for one hope they do —but when we say that we also ask a question, and a very vital question too. and that is. “ Who is to succeed them ? ”

There are very few promising lightweights coming on. There are still fewer who are some'lyntr more than jockeys, who have learnt their horsemanship in the hard school of experience, riding horses good, bad, and indifferent. And success as a jockey is founded upon horsemanship of a very high order, for not every jockey is a horseman, nor every horseman a jockey. The exaggerated “ monkey seat ” maj' be ugly, it may have its own enemies, but it has practical value for all that, for often it means an advantage of 51b, and that weight may make ail the difference in a hard-fought finish. It seems as if the whole system of training jockeys is wrong, for boys when they go into training stables are not allowed, as a general rule, to show any individuality; they must ride in a certain way, they must handle their horses in the same manner. Standardisation is not a •good thing, and least of all from a horseman’s point of view, who should above all be natural, who should find his own seat, and who should make a study of each horse he rides. That was the secret of the success of the older generation of jockeys, and until it is generally adopted the jockeys of the future will be all more or less of the same pattern. EARLY ’CHASING. Steeplechasing was introduced to Victoria in the earliest days of the settlement. and there was a hurdle race at the race meeting in Melbourne on Batman’s Hill in 1839. In later years (says the Australasian? steeplechase cotrses were laid out in Melbourne. Geelong, Bai larat. and other centres, but the old form of racing across country was sti’l practised. In the early ’sixties steeplechases were run at Kilmore over country very similar to that used in the early days ot steeplechasing in England. The course was nearly four miles, and included 36 obstacles. Most of the leaps were post and rails. The going was mostly over ploughed land and heavy black soil. The Great Western Steeplechase, which was run at Coleraine, in the western district of Victoria, was over equally stiff country. Mr R. Learmonth won it in 1864, and again the following v-.«r with Ingleside, whom he rode. In 1864 Ing’eside won the Great Western Steeplechase, which ivas run over four miles, and later in tile day was successful in the Maiden Steeplechase, of three miles. ' r her<’ wore 30 fences in the course, and, like the Ki’niore countin’, it was inostly oyer ploughed land. “The fences included six lanes—a narrow stockyard with the top rail lowered—an uphill four-foot sixer, and a downhill four-footer, the descent being about 45 degrees, which made it an awkward leap. The bulk of the fences were from 4ft to 4ft Gin. with the exception of the redoubtable police paddock fence, which was a stiff threorailer sft 2in high and which the previous vear formed such a stifle scraper for Longbow and a dead stunner tn most <.f the field.” Tn those days hm ees had to b r > accomplished jumpers, but they wcie

mostly halfbred and slow. Pace, howwas 80 essential as it is now, as ■ tlie races were mostly run at about hunting pace. OLD-TIME STEEPLECHASING. The origin of ihe word steeplechase is ■ sufficiently clear, but to apply it to a ■ race is man fesUy absurd, because one cannot chase an inanimate thing like a steeple. The origin of the sport and the 11 ? 1 u G are cUe matches run by owners of hunters, the goal being some prominent .andmark su h as a church steeple. It is doubtful when the first steenlechase was run, says the Australasian, but there is a record of a match in Ireland in 1712 over lour and a-ha’f miles of country between Mr Callaghan and Mr Edmund Blake, the course being from the “ Church of Buttcvant to the spire of St. Le-er Church.” “The Druid” mentions a steeplechase in Lancashire in 1792 from Barkby Holt to the Coplow and back, and in 1824 thcr“ was a match over the’ same course for £2OOO a side between Capta n Horatio Ross on a horse of his own and Captain Douglas on a horse belonging to Lord Kennedy, whi h Captain Ross won. ’lhcse early steeplechases appear to have been limited to two or three horses, and steeplechasing as we know it to-day did not begin to take definite shape until about 1830, when Tommy Coleman, who kept The Chequers Inn at St. Albans, promoted a steeplechase there. There were 16 starters, and the course was from Arlington Church to the obelisk in Wrest 1 ark, near S Isoe. Capta.n Becher rode 1,1 V. 1 ® , raec ’ an d appeared to have it won , until his mount, Wild Boar, fell near home • and eft Moonrakcr to win Moonraker had been purchased out of a water cart for £lB. Becher iodo in th'* first Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase in 1839. He v. as on Conrad, and he started first for a fence with a double rail and a lar<re ditch dammed up on the off side. The horse h t one of the rails and shot Becher over Ins head. That is how the now world-famous Be her’s Brook got its name. { EQUINE GOLD MINES. I It is always interesting to peruse the stake-winning list of great racehorses, for invariab.y it serves to revive recollections of notable performances. Phar Lap has already won suflic’ent prize money to make his position secure for a lengthy period, 111 coNsideting the matter, says 1 haeton, it has to be borne in mind that stakes are falling pronouncedly, and be regarded as unlikely that there will be any marked ’ncrease for several yeais. This being so, the task of anv horse eclipsing Phar Lap’s record for a long period is rendered extreme’y difficult. In tabulating the winnings of the doughty ten. their captures in stakes was found to rim out to £383,027, made up as follows:— £ Phar Lap by Night Raid .. .. 51.662 Amounts, by Magpie 48 250 G oaming. by The Welkin .. .. 43,100 Limerick, by Limond 38.719 Heroic, by Valais Kurythrmc, by Eudorus 36,891 Windbag, by Magpie3s,939 David, by Ba verstock 31 410 Carb ne, by Musket 29 Nightmarch, by N’ght Raid .. .. 29 368 Eight of the ten horses in the above tabulated statement were sold by auction tor a total of 3610gns, the respective sums paid being as follows:— Carb ne. 620gns; Gloaming, 230gns; Eurythmic. 310<nts; Heroic, ISOOgns; David. 40gns: 'Windbag. loOgns; Ainounis, 300gns; Phar Lan, 160gns. l A^ iglltn - larc , h was bought privately for 1 OOOgns in the autumn of his two-year-old career. Limerick was bred nnd raced by his owner, Mr H. A. Knight.