RACING ON AND OFF THE TRACK

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21968, 21 May 1941, Page 6

RACING ON AND OFF THE TRACK

A Budget Of News And Views Racing May 24—Foxton R.C. May 31, June 2—Napier Park R.C. May 31, June 2—Wanganui J.C. May 31, June 2—Dunedin J.C. June 2,4, 7—Auckand R.C. June 7—Dunedin J.C. June 7—Hawke's Bay J.C. Trotting May 24—Ashburton T.C. Sir Crusoe broke down when running in the Raukawa Handicap .at Otaki. Ridden by B. H. Morris, Clarion Call was given a strong work-out on the course proper at Awapuni last Thursday morning, and he is reported to have pulled up well. e Beau Clel has won nine races since he opened his account in January, and just failed to make his total ten when ire finished second to The Monarch at Otaki on Monday. Taurangi has made a good recovery from the trouble that beset her after she had run second in the last New Zealand Cup, and it is hoped to put her back Into training in the spring. Of the fourteen horses entered for the Otago Steeplechase, eight—Astral Flame, Attire. Golden Glow, Night Scout, Pride o’ Central, Roseman. Superex and Surcoat —are in the hack 'chase also. The fact that there was only one starter for a hurdle race at Randwick recently inspired suggestions that these races should be dropped. A better idea would be to reduce the number of hurdles. In a two-mile race at Flemington, where jumping races are a feature, there are nine obstacles; at Randwick there are 15. The Timaru Nursery Stakes was run over a distance of one mile, and Pacing Power won from Scottish Air, Courtcard and Great News. In the Oamaru Juvenile Stakes ill miles), Scottish Air did not start, and Pacing Power won from Great News and Courtcard. On form the four youngsters mentioned are entitled to most support in the Sapling Stakes this week. Pacing Power, with two wins to his credit, is the logical favourite, and bracketed with Sandiways and Papillon, his price will be short. At Oamaru, it will be recalled, Pacing Power’s \ admirers lost money on the place machine. There is a good deal of misapprehension in connection with the Gloucester Cup incident. Mr G. H. Paul did not ride in the race without making application for a gentleman rider’s certificate. He was recommended for one by the Canterbury District Committee, and the point in doubt on Saturday was whether a certificate had been issued by the Conference. Everybody concerned appears to have relied on the fact that the District Committee’s approval had been given publicly. The last official list of licences was nublished by the Conference on May 7, and this did not include the riders of Norse or Auctor, who finished second. Not long ago a wire was stretched across the track from the judge’s box at Randwick, and the V.R.C. will adopt the practice at Flemington. Doomben (Brisbane) has fallen into line and erected a rather palatial box set back from the track, but it is only 13 feet from the rails and the judge is only 9 feet above the ground level. While it is an improvement on the old method, which is still pretty universal in Australia, the distance and height are insufficient. Most South Island clubs now place the judge away from and above the track. It is interesting to remember that Washdyke set the fashion, a wire being Introduced there and the box set back more than 20 years ago. At that time at South Canterbury Jockey Club led the world, but lately it has been outstripped.

When Blackie Miller was given a "walk-over” in the hurdle race at Randwick recently, no jumps were erected, and the horse merely walked past the judge’s box (which was vacant). The A.J.C. rules require no more than that the horse shall pass the box, but it is surely desirable that the judge should be there to declare him the winner. In New Zealand, the rules require that when only one horse weighs out, unless an exemption is given by the stewards, it must complete the course in a flat race, but need only proceed to the starting post in a hurdle race. At one time a hurdler was required to cover the full distance, but on one occasion the only starter broke a leg and the rule was amended. Scarcely a week goes by without some voice from the past being raised in regret at the alleged decadence of the modern racehorse. The main article of old-timers’ faith in the thoroughbred of earlier days is the shortening of the distance of some races and consequent “catering for sprinters instead of stayers.” Up to a point the oldtimers are correct. Many of the important handicaps have been curtailed —the Wanganui Cup is an instance—and races like the Timaru Cup have been cut from 12 miles to 10 furlongs. That is not the whole story. Those alleged long-distance races usually developed into four or five-furlong sprints and seldom were tests of endurance. During the period in which the Timaru Cup extended over 14 furlongs is was only once run faster than 3min 12sec, time which would be ridiculously slow to-day. Ten furlongs in 2min 4sec. which a horse is liable to be asked to do at Washdyke nowadays, is a much more exacting trial of stamina. To test the old-time tale, a look was taken at the South Canterbury programme for the May meeting just 30 years ago. This revealed that in the only mile and a quarter event during the two days there were five starters and the winner took 2min 9 4-ssec—course fast, weather fine. Last. Saturday the winner did 80 yards better. On that programme on each day there were two races over six furlongs, one over five, and one over four, all for adult horses. The four-furlong flutters were among the chief sprint races of the meeting, and during the two days there were only two races as long as a mile. The South Canterbury meeting was not exceptional in this respect either. Those tales about the great stayers of the past must be bedtime stories.