AN EASY WIN

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 379, 22 March 1932, Page 1

AN EASY WIN

PHAR LAP GREETED WITH CHEERS. Crowd Rushed the Track. SEVERAL WEEKS’ REST AHEAD FOR HORSE. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received March 22, 10.30 a.m.) AGUA CALIENTE, March 21. Phar Lap will rest for several weeks before he moves from Agua Caliente to fhe Middle West to prepare for the Arlington Park races. A crashing cheer came from the spectators as Phar Lap galloped past the finishing line in the Agua Caliente Handicap yesterday. 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 that Phar Lap has made is a fifth of a second better than that set last year by Mike Hall. The fifteen thousand spectators marvelled as Phar Lap crossed the finishing line two lengths ahead of Reveille Boy and the field. He was given a perfect ride by W. E. Elliott. He started slowly but uncorked a burst of speed in the back stretch that carried him past the seven horses that led him from the starting chute, and out in front at the half mile post. Bahamas was first to break away, and led past the grandstand, with Spanish Play second and Good and Hot third. Phar Lap was in the middle of the pack. The end of the first quarter-mile saw Joe Flores first by a head from Cabezo, with Bahamas two lengths behind. Then came Spanish Play and Phar Lap, head and head. Taking The Lead. The crowd was in a frenzy as Elliott took Phar Lap to the front -with a dazzling burst of speed. Spanish Play attempted to run with Phar Lap, but was beaten off at the half-mile, where Phar Lap was first, Spanish Play second, Cabezo third and Reveille Boy- fourth. After six furlongs had been covered, Phar Lap was easing along in front. Joe Flores, who was hard to hold, was second. Reveille Boy third and Spanish Play fourth. The latter was dropping back. At the mile mark, Phar Lap lengthened his- lead to two lengths and was well in hand. Reveille Boy was second, Joe Flores third, Marine fourth and Cabezo fifth. Whips Out. Just as Phar Lap moved into the home stretch, there 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. Jockey Bob Wholey lashed Reveille Boy savagely, but Phar Lap stepped out under the slight urging and drew away. In the last sixteenth of a mile it was obvious that there was not a horse in the race that could overcome his lead. A Great Reception. After the race Phar Lap was paraded in front of the judge’s stand and a horseshoe of flowers was hung over him by Mrs Leon Gordon. When Elliott dismounted he was almost in tears from his happiness. After the horse was decorated he led him back and forth while newspaper and cinema cameras played continuously on him. The crowds attempted to rush Mr D. J. Davis, Elliott and Woodcock, when they removed the horseshoe of flowers to pull the roses off as souvenirs. The crowd broke the barrier, but remained good-natured. HIS FUTURE PLANS. Winner will now Go to Chicago. (Written for the “Star.”) Phar Lap. all going well, will next be seen in action in Chicago at the end of next month. His success at Agua Caliente is going to make him a tremendous draw at the meetings in the Middle West and Eastern States. There should be a fortune in store for his connections in the way of appearance money alone. Even before his triumph on Sunday, Phar Lap was credited with having captured the imagination of the sportsloving American nation, and he was stated to be the greatest drawcard in America. Phar Lap is likely to meet stronger opposition in his Chicago and other future engagements, especially if such' high-class performers as Twenty Grand, Mate and Top Flight, are available. However, he won so well on Sunday that New Zealanders will feel confident of his ability to more than hold his own. If the value of the Agua Caliente Handicap to the winner is as cabled, Phar Lap has now won £70,090 in prizemoney. Success in one of the rich stakes in Chicago or other centres where he is likely to race would give him the world's record, now held by Sun Beau (U.S.A.), £75,348. Other ' great monev winners have been Ksar * (France) £67,068. Gallant Fox (U.S.A.) I r £65,633, Zev (U.S.A.) £62.728, Isinglass < England) £58,255, Mate (U.S.A.) £56.000. and Twenty Grand £53,000. Top Flight, who is now a three-year-old, won £43,800 last season, a world’s record for a two-year-old.

P-evious Contests. The first of the recognised international races in America was in 1923 at Belmont Park, New York. The starters were Zev (U.S.A.) and Papyrus, winner of the English Derby. Zev won easily and ran the mile and a half in 2min 35 2-ssec. The value of the race was 80,600 dollars. In 1924 the French horse Epinard took part in three contests against American opponents, and lost each of them. lie was beaten over six furlongs by Wise Counsellor in lmin 11 4-ssec, *Ladkin running third. Over a mile at Aqueduct, New York, Ladkin won in lmin 36 2-ssec, with Epinard second and Wise Counsellor third. Finally, at ,Latonia, Kentucky, Sarazen won over a mile and a quarter in 2min 0 4-ssec. Epinard was second and Mad Play third.