CONVINCING WIN

Southland Times, Issue 21659, 22 March 1932, Page 7

CONVINCING WIN

MIGHTY PHAR LAP TRACK RECORD BROKEN WENT TO FRONT EARLY PRIZE OF 50,000 DOLLARS (United Press Assn.— By Telegraph—Copyright.) Agua Caliente, March 20. The richly endowed Agua Caliente Handicap resulted in a win for Phar Lap by two lengths, his time, 2min 2 4-ssec, breaking the track record by a fifth of a second. Phar Lap is now the second greatest money winner in the world, his total being 332,250 dollars against Sun Beau’s 376,744 dollars. Five minutes before the horses went to the post Phar Lap was at even money. Eighteen thousand persons were present, the attendance being one of the largest ever seen at Agua Caliente. Mr Crofton, president of the track, announced that the race would be worth exactly 50,000 dollars to the winner. Details of the race are as follows:— AGUA CALIENTE HANDICAP, 50,000 dollars. Ono mile and a-quarter. Davis and Telford’s ch g Phar Lap, by Night Raid (imp.)—Entreaty, 6yrs, 9.3 1 Reveille Boy, 8.6 2 Scimitar, 7.2 3 Joe Flores, 6.6 4 Also started: Dr. Freeland 8.6, Spanish Play 8.5, Marine 8.2, Seth’s Hope 8.0, Cabezo 7.2, Good and Hot 7.2, Bahamas 7.0. Reveille Boy was unruly at the start and was taken out of his starting stall and placed at the outside in number twelve position. At the post Scimitar was also fractious. The horses were sent.off to a good start and Phar Lap had enough speed to move up very fast early in the first half-mile and take the lead without trouble. Once in front the race was merely a romp, Phar Lap winning with speed in reserve, cutting down the track record by one fifth of a second and winning by a margin of two lengths over Reveille Boy.

Bahamas was the first to break away and led past the grandstand, Spanish Playbeing second and Good and Hot third, with Phar Lap in the middle of the pack. The first quarter found Joe Flores first by a head, Cabezo two lengths behind, Bahamas third, and Spanish Play and Phar Lap a head away. The crowd was in a frenzy as Elliott took the “Red Terror” to the front with a dazzling burst of speed and Spanish Playattempted to run with Phar Lap, but was beaten off. At the half-mile Phar Lap was first, Spanish Play second, Cabezo third and Reveille Boy fourth. After six furlongs Phar Lap was easing along in front with Joe Florcs hard to hold second, Reveille Boy third, and Spanish Play fourth and dropping back. At the mile mark Phar Lap lengthened his lead to two lengths and was well in hand, Reveille Boy being second, Joe Florcs third, Marine fourth and Cabezo fifth. Turning into the home stretch Elliott was looking backward for the opposition with Phar Lap coasting and Reveille Boy under the whip to stay a close finish. Hats were in the air as Phar Lap won easily and impressively by two lengths, breaking the track record set in the 1931 race by Mike Hall. LATER DETAILS TRIBUTE TO ELLIOTTS RIDING. „ PHAR LAP FINISHES EASILY. (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) Agua Caliente, March 20. Elliott rode a beautiful race. Phar Lap was seventh as the field of eleven passed the stands out of the straight, but went strong on the back stretch, taking a lead of four lengths on going into the last turn. Then the field closed in in strong pur-

suit, Reveille Boy pressing hard until the final buret, when Phar Lap broke away from the pack on the home stretch, finishing easily as the rest of the field faded. After the race Phar Lap paraded in front of the judge’s stand and a horseshoe of flowers was hung on him by Mrs Leon Gordon. When Elliott dismounted he was almost in tears from happiness. After the horse was decorated he was led back and forth in a roped off part of the stretch, and newspaper and cinema cameras played continuously on him. Crowds attempted to rush Davis, Elliott and Woodcock when they removed the horseshoe of flowers in an endeavour to pull roses from it as souvenirs. The crowd broke through the barrier, but remained good-natured. The gross value of the race is 58,800 dollars. Reveille Boy takes 5000 dollars, Scimitar 2500, and Joe Flores 1250. A GREAT BURST ' “RED TERROR” HEADS FIELD. WHIP USED ONLY ONCE. (Rec. 8.45 p.m.) Agua Caliente, March 20. Fifteen thousand spectators marvelled as Phar Lap crossed the finishing line two lengths ahead of Reveille Boy and the field. The “Red Terror” was given a perfect ride by Elliott. He started slowly, but uncorked a burst of speed in the back stretch that carried him past seven horses and out in front. Half a mile farther along the course, just as Phar Lap moved into the home stretch, came Reveille Boy, winner of the American Derby in 1929. He came up fast, running neck and neck with the invader. Momentarily the two hung together, then Elliott applied the whip for the first and only time. It was enough. The jockey, Bob Wholely, lashed Reveille Boy savagely, but the “Red Terror” stepped out under a slight urging and drew away in the last 100 yards. It was obvious that there was not a horse in the race that could overcome his lead. A crashing cheer came from the spectators as Phar Lap galloped past the finishing line. The invader was reined in quickly and jogged back to the charmed circle as the roar of those who wondered at his great power increased. The police were unable to hold the crowd as they rushed to the track to get a better look at the winner, but Phar Lap remained as calm as he was during the long wait at the post. He was not lathering as some of the others were and was scarcely blowing. The record Phar Lap made is a fifth of a second better than that set last year by Mike Hall. Phar Lap carried top weight, 9st 31b. Good and Hot was fifth, then came Seth’s Hope, Spanish Play, Dr. Freeland, Bahamas and Cabezo. TURF HISTORY PREVIOUS INVADERS DEFEATED. A HORSE WITHOUT NERVES. (Rec. 9.35 p.m.) Agua Caliente, March 21. Further vindication of Woodcock’s training methods were noted? Phar Lap finished scarcely blowing, while some of the close finishers were lathered. Elliott’s riding was praised on all sides. Many predicted that ho could have won much easier if pressed throughout the race.

The New York Herald-Tribune’s racing expert comments: “The sensational race of Phar Lap has not a parallel in the history' of American turf. It has been the lot of most Foreign invaders to taste defeat, Papyrus and Epinard being examples. Always excuses for lack of form through climatic changes have been forthcoming. Phar Lap not only seemed thoroughly acclimatized, but as fit as any horse that has gone to the post in America. His record-breaking effort at a mile and aquarter under 9st 31b is all the more remarkable from the fact that there was a delay' of ten minutes at the post, but then Phar Lap is a horse without nerves; nothing worries or frets him.” Tlie newspapers give the race a prominent display with details and pictures and extensive accounts of Phar Lap’s record in Australia; also tabulated gross winnings in comparison with Sun Beau, Gallant Fox and others. They see the possibility of Phar Lap superseding Sun Beau when he comes east. BEFORE THE RACE PHAR LAP FAVOURITE. CHEERS FOR CHAMPION. (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) Agua Caliente, March 20. As the hour for the handicap approached Phar Lap gained 'supporters steadily and was quoted as a distinct favourite. Spanish Play was second choice, followed by Reveille Boy, Joe Flores and Cabezo, then came Dr Freeland, Good and Hot, Scimitar, Seth’s Hope and Marine. In the early morning the weather was threatening, but it cleared later. The track is fast and with no rain evident it is anticipated that the greatest crowd in the history of the handicap will be present. The first race of fifteen started at 10.20. This morning Tommy Woodcock pronounced Phar Lap fit. “We think he will win, but if he is beaten there will be no excuses,” he declared. Just before the call to the post enthusiasts rushed to gain the coveted position before number nine post where Phar Lap was to be saddled and mounted by Elliott. At the last minute there was’a jam at the betting booths where Phar Lap continued

to rule. The choice horse was cheered on entering the paddock led by Woodcock. THE NEWS. IN SYDNEY RACING FRATERNITY AGOG. (Rec. 9.25 p.m.) Sydney, March 21. Racing men in Sydney never doubted that Phar Lap would win. Harry Marsden said it was only a matter of Phar Lap being fit. George Price was very delighted and expressed the opinion that Phar Lap would now go after greater successes in America. Leading bookmakers say there was no business here on the race and the result was as expected. The whole racing fraternity was agog and heard the result by radio. The news spread through the city like wildfire and there were cheers at the different clubs. Phar Lap’s fastest time for a mile and a-quarter was at Randwifck in October, 1931, in the Craven Plate—2min HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS CABLE FROM PRIME MINISTER. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, March 21. Tlie Prime Minister has sent the following cable to-day to Mr Davis, Agua Caliente, Mexico: New Zealand heartily congratulates yourself, trainer and rider on Phar Lap’s outstanding victory. The fact that your champion was bred and born in New Zealand naturally enhances the keen pleasure shared by all Dominion sportsmen. THE WORLD’S WINNERS HIGH AMERICAN STAKES. A recent cablegram from America stated that Sun Beau had raised his stake-winning total to £71,080, which gives him the leading place under that heading viewed in a world sense. The United States also holds second place with Gallant Fox, whose winnings amount to £68,273. So far as America is concerned, it seems pretty safe to conclude that stake-money will remain high there, so that new records are quite possible. Isinglass’s record, which has stood at the head of the list in England for a period of 36 years, is not likely to be beaten for a good few years yet, for many big stakes have been cut down in value, and the prediction can also apparently be safely offered in regard to Phar Lap’s record in Australia, for stake-money has been pointedly curtailed there. The following is a list of leading great stake-winners in America, France, England and Australia, compiled prior to Sunday’s race:— America—Sun Beau £71,080; Gallant Fox £68,273; Zev £65,000. France—Ksar £67,068; Massine £48,311; Sardanaple £42,301. England—lslinglass £57,455; Donovan £55,154; Coronach £48,224. Australia—Phar Lap £56,440; Amounis £48,250; Gloaiihing £43,100. An interesting feature of the above list of winners is that the three horses ranged under the Australian list were sold at auction as yearlings for moderate sums, as follows: —Phar Lap, 160gns; Amounis, 300gns; Gloaming, 230gns.