NEVER IN DOUBT.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 December 1923, Page 10

NEVER IN DOUBT.

THE ZEV-PAPYRUS RACE. AMERICAN OOLT SHOWS SUPERIORITY. LOSER UNDER A HANDICAP. The running of the 100,000 dollar international match race between Papyrus and Zev at Belmont Park, U.S.A., on October 20, left no doubt that the American representative was much the better horse. The victory of Zev by five lengths was so decisive that no one in the great throng that saw the test could doubt the superiority of the winner. Zev proved under the prevailing conditions not only to have greater speed, which had been admitted for him in advance, but also more stamina than his English rival. The only unfortunate circumstance surrounding the race was that it was run on a muddy track, declares the sporting writer of the New York Times. There remains the possibility that Papyrus could have made a better showing on a fast track, such as his best races have been run on, for it did seem quite evident during the running of the iace, and particularly the last three furlongs, that the son of Tracery did not like the condition of the track. There was never a doubt, of course, that Zev would negotiate the muddy going, for he has proved his ability to run in mud many times.

Trainer. Basil Jarvis may have himself largely to blame for the showing of his horse under the circumstances, as he refused to take the advice of numerous American trainers and equip his horse with toe clip plates, used here for such going as prevailed. After the race Donoghue said that several times Papyrus slipped on the greasy surface, and that it w’as evident early in the race that he was not suited to the track conditions. This bore out the opinion, as gained through the glasses, that Papyrus was spreading at times, particularly whenever his rider attempted to move up with him. Jarvis had sent to England for a set of smooth plates such as are used in that country and which are suited to the running conditions there. They proved inadequate for the track that Papyrus was obliged to run over at Belmont Park.

The lack of proper plates, however, cannot be held as any good excuse for the defeat of the English racer. At no time in the running of the race did Papyrus show speed equal to that of Zev, and when the*, question of stamina arose; Zev had speed left when Papyrus was straightened out and thoroughly beaten.

SANDE RIDES EXCELLENT R.-'.CE.

Whether entirely under instructions or partly from his own judgment. Sande rode an excellent race. He relied on the speed of Zev to kill off Papyrus, and this strategy succeeded. Sande said afterwards that Zev was able to draw away any time he was called on. Zev carried Papyrus along at such a good dip through the first mile that the English racer was well used up in his effort to keep close to his American opponent, and when the turn was reached he had been raced out.

Though ’getting the better of the break, Papyrus lacked the early speed to hold this slight advantage for more than fifty yard', when Zev had caught him, and in the next few strides the American horse went to the front under restraint. Sande did not make an effort to test Papyrus for speed until he was making the turn into the back stretch, Papyrus meantime had closed up until he was less than a length away. But when Sande first gave Zev his head as the long straightaway appeared before them, Zev quickly outran his rival and increased his lead to a length and a half.

Papyrus was falling back slightly, and it was not until the mile pole was readied that Donoghue made another effort. He then sent Papyrus up with a rush, and the English horse got within half a length of Zev’s nose. But Sande was watching every move, and did not permit his rival to remain in such close proximity more than a few strides. Sande had been holding Zev under a steady restraint, and al an even pace through the early stages, but now he let the brown colt step along a little faster.

That point in the race was the deciding one, for when Papyrus was unable to keep pace with Zev and again began to drop back until he was two lengths in the rear at the turnout of the back stretch, it was evident that he was a beaten horse. He seemed to sprawl slightly a.s he entered upon the turn.

PAPYRUS MAKES FINAL EFFORT. But Papyrus was still game and responded to one more effort. Half way around the turn Donoghue sent him after the fleet Zev once more, and the English iiorse gained about half a length in the short spurt, when suddenly he cracked when Zev refused to be caught. From the stands it appeared that Zev was drawing away through increased speed, when actually he was gaining only because Papyrus had faltered badly and could not keep up. The speed displayed by Zev in the run through the back stretch, where the fastest part of the race was run, had finished Papyrus. It was hardly a contest through the last three furlongs. Zev increased his lead to five lengths by the time he reached the wire, although Sande was pulling up in the last fifty yards. Donoghue drew his whip and applied it turning into the stretch, but at the furlong post he realised the hopelessness of the task, and laid his whip aside. Papyrus was then a very tired horse, and had given up all he had. While there was no opportunity for a display of unusual jockeyship, it can be said that Sande rode a perfect race. His judgment of pace was excellent, and he restrained Zev so that he always had something left for a challenge, yet was able to hold the lead at all times. Donoghue did all that he could with his. mount. He made three distinct challenges. His first two were in efforts to come abreast of the American horse with the hope that Papyrus might take the heart out of Zev in close running, and the last attempt was made in sheer desperation and Donoghue had found that Papyrus could not match speed with the Yankee flyer. There were no faults in the riding of the English jockey. He was obliged to keep his mount close to Zev, and when Papyrus was outrun through the first mile there was nothing left for Donoghue to do but make a last challenge before reaching the head of the stretch. Papyrus simply had lacked both the speed and the stamina of Zev. 'FORTUNE PAID IN ADMISSIONS. The Westchester Racing Association, [operating Park, came out of

the affair pretty well too. Though the record-breaking crowd which had been expected failed to turn out, the .shortage was almost entirely in the lower brackets of the price list. Box seats, enclosure, and grandstand were almost all filled, and there were thousands who came in on general admission, besides a scattering crowd in the infield. Though no official report of the gate was obtainable. it is believed that the receipts aggregated 43*2,000 dollars, and the motion picture rights are worth 50.000 dollars more. The expense of the race, altogether, will come to about 190,000 dollars, so the house is pretty well ahead. As to the handling of the crowd, it could nor have been better There i was no trouble of apy sort,