THE KING WINS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 829, 1 August 1933, Page 10

THE KING WINS.

Great Enthusiasm at Royal Ascot. BROWN JACK’S RECORD (Special to the “Star”) LONDON, June 22 The Ascot meeting, as highly sue cessful as ever, had a happy finish, being marked by a win for the King with his four-year-old Limelight. His Majesty has not had a very fortunate experience on the turf, but Limelight is a fine horse, perhaps the best he has owned, and the way he captured the Hardwicke Stakes, in a thrilling finish which revealed the superb jockeyship of Childs, aroused great enthusiasm. The race was over a mile and a half, and Limelight had not previously attempted this distance. In fact, there was a doubt whether he could last it He started in sluggish style, and at the end of half a mile Childs had to shake him up to keep his place. But he was obviously running easily, despite the fact that he was last but one entering the straight. Then, however, he made a fine burst, and, timing the effort in wonderful style, Childs got his mount home by a neck from Nitsichin. After the race the King, who was obviously delighted by his success, went into the paddock to see Limelight, and later Childs and Gordon Richards were summoned to the Roval box. where they were congratulated, Childs on his fine piece of horsemanship. His Majesty also thanked Richards for his services to the Royal stable, and praised him for his remarkable achievements. Already Richards has ridden over eighty winners, and he seems to have a great chance this season of realising his ambition to reach a total of 200. Wonderful Old Horse.

The meeting closed with another joyful scene, when old Brown Jack, now nine years of age, won the Queen Alexandra Stakes for the fifth year in succession in partnership with Steve Doncghue. Brown Jack is wonderfully popular, and the vast gathering on the Royal heath burst into cheers when it was seen that the old fellow was much too good for his rivals. To bet one had to lay good odds on. but they were never in doubt Lord As tor’s Success. The meeting was a triumph for Lord Astor, who was the most successful owner. He won four races worth £10,660, his filly. Bett}', gaining the Coronation Stakes and the. prize of £4350. Usually this is the most valuable prize of the meeting, but this year the Gold Cup was worth a few hundred pounds more. Lord Astor. too, was very pleased with the success of Canon Law, who could not be trained for the Derby. Fie beat several Derby horses in the St James’s Palace Stakes, however, and suggested that he might have a chance in the St Leger. Of the other winning owners, Mr Edmond Esmond was second with a total of £7190. More than half this sum was won by Foxhunter in securing the Gold Cup. Foxhunter had run the previous day in rather undistiguished style, and he was allowed 'to start at good edds for the Cup. The opposition was strong, his*rivals including Orpen and that grand mare, Brulette.‘ whose stamina was believed to be inexhaustible. On this occasion, however, Foxhunter wore her down, and, also resisting a strong challenge by Orpen, bravely landed trfe long odds. Aga Khan Out of Luck. . The most remarkable feature of the prize list was that the Aga Khan did not figure on it. Last year he headed the owners with over £9OOO. and now he drew' a blank. Similarly his trainer, Frank Butters, whose horses a year ago won £10,700, had not a winner. Lord Astor’s trainer, Joseph Lawson, turned out five winners w'ho secured £12,435. J. Jarvis and Fred Darling each had four winners, and their totals were £II,OOO and £Blls respectively. It was notable, in the care of Darling, that he presented three of the most important of the two-year-olds, Medieval Knight, Maureen and Merenda, who should keep him in the front next season, if his young champions develop in the right way. His fourth winner was Myrobella, who cantered home alone, five lengths clear of the rest of the field. But it has been definitely proved that she is only a sprinter.

DEPRESSION DAMAGES. Prize money has commenced to go up again in Australia, quite apart from Melbourne’s centenary splash in 1934. A rise was desirable, as is shown by the appended comparison of the value to the winner of certain races this season and their value seven years ago:

This list has the merit of a wide range. The Epsom, Craven Plate, Anniversary, Doncaster, A.J.C. Derby and All Aged Stakes are Sydney events. The Goodw'ood is an annual Adelaide sprint, while the other events are Melbourne races run at Flemington, Caulfield, Moonee Valley and Williamstown. The last-named club has the distinction of not having reduced stakes during the depression, and it will be noted the C. F. Orr Stakes in the above list has slightly increased in value. The Victoria Racing Club (Flemington) in the last twelve months has created several new annual events with good prize money. RACING PROVIDES. A survey of premiums offered by the State fairs of the United States shows that the amount of 130.000 dol. offered by the Illinois State Fair is the largest amount set aside by any other State operated institution. Illinois premiums come from proceeds of licensed racing in the State.

1925-6. 1932-33. £ £ A.J.C. Derby 6.993 3,500 Melbourne Cup .... 7,415 5.200 Caulfield Cup 5,500 5.100 Epsom Handicap .. 5.597 1,6.31 Craven Plate 2,349 974 Caulfield Guineas .. 2,362* 1,575 W. S. Cox Plate ... 750 600 Victoria Derby .... 4,397 2,800 Linlithgow Stakes . 1,129 525 C. F. Orr Stakes .. 380 400 A.J.C. Anniversary Handicap 1,584 721 Caulfield Futurity Stakes 2.6011 1,600 Australian Cup .... 2,865 1,950 Leonard Stakes .... 947 450 Doncaster Handicap 2.894 1,579 All Aged Stakes . . 2,341 1.000 Goodwood Handicap 700 320