Are Chelone and Catonian Habitual Offenders ?

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 689, 14 June 1929, Page 12

Are Chelone and Catonian Habitual Offenders ?

There are many very surprised people, with sporting inclinations, in the Dominion this week. The surprise, too, is something in the nature of an electric shock. In this week’s official calendar there are two additions to the schooling list. They are Chelone and Catonian. lienee the surprise. Take a glance through the schooling list now published. There are a dozen names of unruly (allegedly) horses appearing therein, and no less than seven are horses stabled in the Auckland Province. From this it would appear that easily the majority of the wild, wild horses are to be found in this part of the country. But there is every justification for taking exception to the names of Catonian and Chelone appearing in the schooling list. Their stubbornness at the barrier has not been of a vicious nature; rather a disinclination to face the tapes. It was noticeable that Catonian broke through the barrier more than once at Ellerslie at the recent meeting, while Chelone was only one of many in the open sprint class noticed ducking and diving about. There certainly did not appear to be that about their performances as to warrant their being black listed for flat racing—which is what the schooling list actually means—and forced to race over the obstacles. A Precedent There was one case vivid in the memory, where a horse that did everything at the barrier but chew up the other horses, their riders and the starter, displaying marked viciousness, fore and aft, was allowed to get away with it, and this in several races in succession. This went on for over twelve months before the culprit was placed on the schooling list.

What a marked difference in the cases now listed. They kick their heels about and become barrier shy, and lo and behold they are barred! It does not seem fair. The majority of those who witnessed the many barrier incidents at the Great Northern Meeting will bo much surprised to see the latest acquisitions to the schooling list. Far be it that one should harshly criticise the work of the stipendiaries in this direction, for anything that will get over the present bad habits of horses at the barriers is to be commended. Nevertheless, after the precedent referred to —and roundly condemned in these columns at the time — it does seem that the officials were

i rather harsh in treating Chelone and Catonian as outlaws. Tightening Up? i The only reason the officials could have had was that a general tighten-ing-up process has been ordered or decided upon. In Western Australia they now have a black list, eligibility for which is open to horses that have failed to show any form in their races, with the object of reducing tho toubig fields. To achieve this the “weeds'’ arc* being weeded out. Perhaps it would be too much to say that our schooling list is to play a similar part. But the fact remains that horses far from being outlaws are being penalised. It also brings to mind the case of Finelli, whose turf i career ended simultaneously with her name being placed upon the schooling list. Finelii was bad at the barrier, j but nowhere near so vicious as the i pointed case given above. And yet ! Catonian and Chelone to date do not [ appear to be nearly as bad as Finelli.

Owners' Bad Luck ! Chelone is owned by that most popuj lar sportsman. Air. W. IT. Guisford. of Oringi, Hawke’s Bay, and is trained by P. W. Scally here. Chelone had been sprinting brilliantly in his work, and it looked as if a race would have gone his way soon. Tie is rising live years, and now that he has been forced to the ranks of jumpers he looks like one [that should pay his way. I How ever, it is some consolation to ! | Mr. Gaisford that he is a great lover ] of jumpers, and an extra one on his! hands will not be taken as a set-back. Nevertheless, Chelone was entitled to more chances to prove that he is not as black as he has been officially painted. So far as Catonian is concerned, be is a horse of a different colour. Lie is only a three-year-old, and still a I maiden, although be would not have been long in getting on the winning ! list. Last week Catonian was submitted to auction, and realised 160 guineas, his purchaser being the Wanganui sportswoman, Mrs. S. L. Parsons, Six days after he changed hands Catonian was placed on the schooling list, well before he had a chance of carrying his new owno y s colours. There is something of tho Prince . Humphrey touch about this case. A ’ colt ranking as a half-brother to the Derby winner fetched 2.600 guineas at ; auction last Easte rat Randwick, the ; big pi'ice no doubt being forthcoming iby virtue of his distinguished relai tions. It mattered little that the | .sportsman who went to such a tall j figure was a millionaire. Now it | would seem as if the new owner of ! Catonian has also bought a pig in a poke. Yes, even if he develops into a Mister Gamp. Once on the schooling list it is exceedingly difficult to get off. Generally, black-listed horses are put over the obstacles or retired from racing. However, there is a provision made for removing a horse from the schooling list, as the following part of Rule 5, part IX. of the “Rules of Racing” states: The Executive Committee may, at its discretion, remove from the schooling list the name of any horse which has appeared thereon for three consecutive years or upwards, or for any other good and sufficient reason.” It would occasion little surprise were the “good and sufficient reasons” produced very soon.