FROM TRACK AND STABLE

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17220, 1 October 1927, Page 19 (Supplement)

FROM TRACK AND STABLE

(By “Martian.”) RACING FIXTURES. - October 8, 10.—Auckland R.C. October 2±, 22.—Waikato R.C. October 24.—Waikato Hunt. October 29, 31.—Thames (Ellerslie) November s—Te5 —Te Kuiti (Te Awatnutu). November, 10. 12.—Whangarei R.C. November 2G, 28.—Takapuna R.C Dec. 10, 12.—Taumarunui R.C. December 17. —Waipa R.C. December 26, 28 and January 2, 3.—■ Auckland R.C. January 12, 14.—Dargaville R-C. January 16.—Waipapakauri R.C. January 21.—Bay of Islands R.C. January 28, 30. —Takapuna J.C, February 11, 13. —Rotorua R.C. February 25, 27.—Te Aroha J.C. March 3, s—Te5 —Te Kuiti R.C. March 10, 12.—Franklin R.C. March 17, 21.—Ohinemuri J.C. March 24.—Bay of Plenty J.C. March 31.—Whangarei J.C. > April 7, 9—Auckland R.C. April 14, 18. —Avondale J.C. April 28, 30.—Waikato R.C. June 2,4, 6.—Auckland R.C. Trotting Dates. October 15.—Inangahua. October 15, 19.—Auckland. October 22, 24.—Greymoutk. '< October 24.—Oamaru. November 19, 23.—Otahuhu November 25, 26.—Forbury. December 3.—Waikato. December 10.—Northland. December 26.—Ashburton. December 26.—Gore December 26, 27.—Westport. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. ’“Sport,” Hamilton. —J-Iyades, the dam of Prodice and Phaolajs a full sister to Ilymestra. '‘Clash,!’ Te Aroha.—Last season the Auckland and Canterbury Clubs clashed with their November meetings. This is being avoided this year.

HORSES THAT STAY. WELL-REASONED VIEWS. NECESSITY FOR RESTRAINT. Writing on “What is a Stayer?” an English turf follower expresses the opinion that the whole matter lies in the hands of the breeders. Those owners, ‘he writes, who are fortunate enough to possess horses of proved ability are in a position to once more place British breeding in the supre--macy it has enjoyed in the past. But I ana inclined to think that the lure of money has eclipsed, the element of common sense.

A horse no sooner shows some racing ability in these days than he is immediately assessed as a “wonder hoi-se,” and retired to the stud. I am not disposed to go back further than the last few years, and it is not necessary to do so in order to prove my point. In my opinion stallions are sent to the stud too soon, and before they have reached what I consider maturity. Except in certain cases, where Nature and its exigencies demand consideration, no horse, whether male or female, should be asked to assume stud duties too early in life. To the Sixth Year. If I,were in the fortunate position financially of certain owners, I should continue to race until the end of their sixth year such horses as Coronach, Colarado, Foxiaw, Dark Japan, Pons Asinorium, and Solario, to mention just a few. And if it were found necessary tc retire them at an earlier age the greatest care should be taken to restrain their proclivities in the fourth, fifth and sixth years of stud life, and allow them only mares of as near as possible an equal age. It is the custom nowadays to deplore the dearth of stayers, but I am convinced that if the method mentioned were adopted we should find the need for many races of longer distances than now pertain, and that racing would become not only of greater interest, but the Industry of breeding would receive an Impetus of far more importance to this country than it has gained in the past. I feel that there are many horses being continually exploited over short cuts that if trained for longer distances would develop into stayers. Weight And Age.

The best horse is the horse which can travel the longest distance in the shortest time, and due regard should he paid to the weight carried in relation to weight for age. The weight for age scale does not receive the consideration it deserves, especially as regards the weights allotted in handicaps.

For some obscure reason which I have never been able to fathom, Foxlaw always had more enemies than friends. Yet he won the Gold Cup by running his opponents to a standstill. Last year he was proclaimed a lucky winner when he beat Tournesol by a short head over two miles In the Northumberland Plate, giving the latter 51b. Subsequently, over fourteen furlongs of the Cesarewitch course, and in receipt of 61b, he beat the socalled champion Solario by a neck. Again he was accounted a lucky winner. but I say emphatically that events have proved that had the distance been further his defeat of Solario would have been more convincing.

With regard to “times” over the longer. disiances. we may compare those of Coronach and Fnxlavv, as we have full evidence of their capabilities. Coronach and Foxlaw. Coronach’s performance over a long distance —and indubitably his best — was in the St. Leger. lie covered the fourteen furlongs in approximately the rate of 12As per furlong. Foxlaw’s time in the Cesarewitch of 21 miles was also at approximately 12As per furlong, and this, be it re- , memhered. in a handicap where lightly- : weighted older horses were making fast running. _ . , There is. however, very liftlc point in all this unless one considers the mio'dion of acre at breeding. I have pointed out. that horses of mature a or, pre best calculated to produce : stamina in their offspring, and in particular cases referred to I will show niv meaning. The breeding of Foxlaw shows that. the time his sire and_ dam were mated they were respectively ten and twelve years of age. | Solario: Sire 6 years, dam 0., c: rc p yearn, dam !L ' Colorado : Sire 9 years, darn 9. j , Turk Japan: Sire, 8- years, dam li. | }• pons Asinorum: Sire 23 years, dam j

Now', the point to be considered is the use of the sires made in their early retirement to the stud, and my contention is that the greater the restraint in these early years the greater power they will show when reaching maturity.