SPORTING NOTES

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 77, Issue 7000, 8 December 1948, Page 7

SPORTING NOTES

ON RACING AND TROTTING BRIEF ITEMS ON AND OFF THE TRACK (By “Old Rowley”) A Good Guide Although much maligned by punters and sometimes owners and trainers as well, the Waipa Plate, now restricted to three and four-year-olds has been the testing ground for many horses which have gone on to become favourites in important events later on. This event has not always had an age restriction clause and time was when even two-year-olds ran prominently, and afterwards succeeded in Auckland and at Avondale in the Autumn. Looking back over the past few years such names as Gay Rosette, Marble Fox, Bramble Song, Exeter, Royal Master, Flowerburn, Swift Quarry, Conspiracy and Democracy, have figured among the winners and placegetters. Last December saw victories for Ninth Week and Vigilantia, with Our Dink and Gay Rosina, Napredak (which subsequently won the Great Northern Oaks) and Coruscant in the minor placings. It will be noted that most of these became consistent placegetters and it can be safely said that the Waipa Plate is generally a good guide for those seeking a hack with ability.

Outside Chance Although Peter Gregor must be getting to an age where his connections will find it hard to win races with him, he is very well at present and should he be brought to Te Awamutu to contest the Flying Handicap, he must be conceded an outsider’s chance. At Pukekohe on Saturday last he was not that far away from the winning division, and he is favoured by ruling conditions. The field for the Flying Handicap is by no means a strong one from the point of view of sprinters and Peter Gregor may still retain sufficient speed to upset calculations.

Beau Conte Appeals An interesting acceptor for the first division of the Waipa Plate at Te Awamutu on Saturday next is Beau Conte, and this three-year-old appears to be well placed to open his winning account. He has been lightly raised, but tested against the classy colts, geldings and fillies of his own age in classic races, where he showed to advantage. On performance there is nothing in his division approaching the form of this Beau Vite—Liane colt and it should be a good pipeopener for his Ellerslie engagements at Christmas time.

Returning to Form Freezing Point attracted a lot of attention some considerable time ago, but failed to live up to expectations and was subsequently dropped by track watchers and sports-writers. However, he is again showing form, and at Pukekohe ran fourth in the Harrisville Hack Handicap after being well back in the early part of the running. Freezing Point claims an engagement in the first division of the Pirongia Hack Cup Handicap, and will be opposing a much weaker field than he met last week.

Consistent, But Unplaced Although unplaced, Bouquet continues to run good races and is generally in the first five to cross the finishing post. This useful hack has lately been tried out over a longer journey and made quite a creditable showing at Pukekohe. She may have prospects if raced at Waipa.

A Good Type After finishing very resolutely on the first day of the.Te Rapa meeting, Grand Shepherd was not greatly fancied for his engagement on the second day of the meeting, but he won so convincingly that shrewd judges had no hesitation in supporting him at Pukekohe. He won very comfortably and ran the seven furlongs in 1.28, exactly the same time as it took the open sprinters. By Greek Shepherd from Grand Light, this four-year-old should not be unduly troubled by 9.0 in the Ohaupo Hack Handicap, and being a good beginner capable of being raced into a good position early, his prospects of extending his winning record to three in a row should be bright at Waipa on Saturday next.

May Graduate Soon Raiding is showing sufficient promise to attract attention to its future engagements. Prior to racing at Woodville on Saturday last Raiding had run a creditable fourth and in the first division of the Novice Stakes was again a creditable fourth.

Track Work Borne Out Although Virginius had not raced in public prior to contesting a division of the Novice Stakes at Woodville, the public supported it very solidly. They failed to get any return for their outlay, but Virginius ran a creditable fourth and should reward followers in the near future.

Points to be Noted Of course it is easy to realise that the public took little notice of Lord Manna’s good form when he contested the second division of the Gorge Hack Handicap at Woodville, for this galloper is a hurdler of promise, but they should have realised when F. R. Meynell was hoisted in the saddle, giving the horse 13i lbs overweight to carry, that his chances were worth investigating further. There are occasions, in these days of large fields where owners and trainers are forced to put up riders with overweight, but when such a well-known horseman as F. R. Meynell is known to have the mount considerably earlier than starting time, it is almost certain that hope is held out for success, especially with a horse whose activities are intended to be restricted mainly to hurdling.

Retains Form Well Gratuity continues to retain his form and this season has proved very useful among the hacks, being placed five times in his last seven trips to the race track. On Saturday last he ran on very solidly to be fourth in the second division of the Stewards’ Hack Handicap. This equine is evidently at home in any going and should be worth keeping in mind.

Making Amends Sorrell proved a useful two-year-old, and subsequently raced well.

However, lately he has failed to show dash and this no doubt explains the poor support he received when sent out to contest the Railway Handicap at Woodville, where he just failed to defeat Fleetwood. By Gynerium— Brown Hill, Sorrell is very useful when in form and must be a factor in future races he contests. Topweight Arrives Having arrived at Te Rapa, where he is working keenly, and looking very bright, it is now very probable that King’s Ransom will contest the Te Awamutu Cup on Saturday, in which he is topweight.

DANGEROUS RIDING ARE COMPLAINTS JUSTIFIED ? (By “ Old Rowley ”) The attention of “ Old Rowley ” was recently drawn to a paragraph appearing in a popular racing periodical wherein rhe statement was made that a well-known apprentice jockey was in danger of losing his license to ride in open races. The paragraph read as follows: “ A certain well-known apprentice jockey is in danger of losing his license to ride in open races. From the comments of the average rider this is a much belated action, as his reckless riding has been a source of danger for some time. He also figured in an incident last Saturday, where a skull cap dropued before the finish was donned at the birdcage entrance. It is bad luck for the youngster but it is hoped that he will come back a little more cautious, and his undoubted gameness tempered with experience.”

Who the apprentice referred to happens to be is more than this writer is prepared to say, for although occasionally rumour connects prominent young riders with such incidents, rumour is a lying jade, and only harm can be done by idle prediction unless official confirmation is forthcoming.

However, let us look into this question of reckless riding. If a rider is to be prohibited from riding in open races because of recklessness, is he not likely to be as dangerous, or even more of a menace, in the over-crowd-ed hack fields prevailing to-day ? In any case, what constitutes dangerous or reckless riding ? Is it foolhardy boring in, crossing too suddenly, bridle grasping. foot locking, or what ?

There are stewards placed at strategic positions on every course—.men supposedly competent to spot unfair and dangerous practices. Surely their opinions are the ones which should count when any Question such as this arise; yet in the above-quoted para graph comments of the average rider are taken as a judgment that the withdrawal of a license is a belated action.

Now, what about the other side of the question: the point of view of the apprentice—very likely Jthe average apprentice—if the matter could be thrashed out. to its logical conclusion ?

When a youngster commences his career as an annrentice jockey he at once comes in contact with seasoned riders who know all the tricks of the trade and to whom is often entrusted the task of bringing off a big betting coup. The apprentice only needs to bob up unexpectedly when the race is, so to speak, “ in the bag ” for the patrons of the experienced rider, and immediately the youngster is marked as a source of annoyance and expense and one who must be taught the error of his ways. There is no suggestion of intimidation. but “ Old Rowley ” has known of cases where an apprentice has been given false openings only to find them closed again when he was in a vc ry ticklish spot. Then, again, there have been instances where jostling in a crowded field has curbed the impetuousness of youth. Supposing an incident did occur where two experienced riders conveniently opened up and immediately a young apprentice took the chance to shoot his mount between them ? To tile horror of keen racing men watching the race the gap was closed before the lad was through. It looked bad for a moment; but the confident boy, instead of trying to stop his mount, rose to the occasion and literally forced his way through. When the fully-fledged jockeys returned to the bird-cage they were visibly affected.

The whole point is that the boy they had set out to frighten had actually scared the life out of them. Now, on whom would the blame for reckless riding fall in such a case ? Could the boy be blamed for deciding to go on with the original intention in a circumstance that needed splitsecond decision ? Were the riders justified in lodging their complaint of reckless ridin* on the part of the boy ?

Take another hypothetical incident. The field sweeps into the straight, and a rider on the inside finds himself pocketed. Outside him is a youngster riding to win. The inside horseman pulls out and endeavours to bore on to the boy and unbalance him; but the lad refuses to give way, and there is interference. XVho is to blame here ?

Riding, like many other professional outdoor vocations, ig pre-eminently an occupation where the older participants feel that they have the experience and ability to which the young and less experienced rider should bow, and if he fails to toe the line it is not unnatural that they should consider him wayward. They have a right to protect their livelihood and their very existence; but they should not be swayed by the fact that a boy can outwit them.

It is significant that although much is said about the recklessness of apprentice riders the fact remains that most of the fatalities of the New Zealand turf have occurred in races where there has been a preponderance of experienced horsemen. This, of course, does not mean that apprentice riders are saints, or that they don’t make mistakes, but it certainly does not help to make a case for those who would accuse the apprentice riders of being a menace to the safety of experienced jockeys. If recklessness is proved by the men who are entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring safe riding—the patrol stewards —then no doubt action will be taken; but until such proof is brought forward little good can come of “ kite-flying.”