THE CLUBMAN

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1553, 29 January 1920, Page 8

THE CLUBMAN

The Wellington Racing Club’s summer meeting will go down to be remembered in turf history for quite a number of happenings thereat out of the ordinary; indeed, of an extraordinary character. The second deadheat for the Wellington Cup since its inception would have been to place it on the same footing as a few other important handicap races in the Dominion and in the Australasian colonies, or races other than handicap events, but in which two dead-heats have occurred. The fact that the two races in which the same judge (Mr. R. B. Lusk) was unable to separate the two horses in each instance first to past the post makes such a happening in connection with a leading race in New Zealand one which is sure to be talked about by present-day racegoers. Double deadheats, or dead-heats in successive years, for particular events are so rare that people can well be excused when they express the belief that there are probably no parellel cases in the Dominion or the colonies, or, indeed, in the world. Racing has been in vogue so long throughout the universe that it would be surprising if the dead-heats between Kilmoon (R. Reed) and Oratress (M. McCarten) and between Rewi Poto (R. Reed) and Red Ribbon (B. Deeley) last year were the only ones for a particular event on record, that is in years immediately following each other. Dead-heats in racing events in New Zealand have been fairly frequent, not only for first place, but for second and third positions, and dead-heats for the same races have also come at intervals.

We have witnessed and have read of some of the dead-heats between as many as three horses on different courses in New Zealand such as happened at Trentham last week on the opening day of the Wellington Racing Club’s meeting in one_ of the minor races, .the Ruapehu Handicap. What makes that race, in which Nursing Sister (A. Reed), Borealis (G. Young) and Hepta (R. Bagby) were the dead-heaters, the more remarkable is that it came on the same day as the Wellington Cup, in which the judge was unable to separate Kilmoon arid Oratress for that, the leading handicap of the meeting. The intervening race, the Telegraph Handicap, run over six furlongs, in which the placed horses, Statuette, 80-Peep and Michaela, finished nose and nose, or head and head, must have been another thrilling event for the onlookers and the supporters of each of the trio, though the most exciting arid soul-stirring contests are not always those that are the very closest. A good deal depends upon the vantage point of the majority of the spectators, and also much as to whether the horses which are taking the most prominent positions, disputing with each other the question of supremacy, are the best backed or outsiders.

When the favourites are found resolutely contesting every inch of the last half furlong or more of a race their partisans and supporters are worked up to the highest pitch of expectancy, but when it so happens that those between which the issue is in manifest doubt up to the moment their numbers go up are outsiders and dire disappointment has taken possession of three-fourths or more of the crowds which'have backed favourites already well beaten, then the cheering is less enthusiastic, Though there are good losers on all our courses, backers of successful favourites are usually the more demonstrative. When crack performers, which have become popular meet, and victory, after a well-fought contest, goes to a popular horseman and owner (especially should the horse and owner belong to the district where the race is run), then enthusiasm is noticeably more than ever pronounced. Still the fine sporting spirit of our average racing crowds comes out in the majority of cases when horses, no matter where they have come from, have given of their best and have displayed fine qualities in speed, stamina, or as the case might be, of jumping ability. The

Wellington meeting provided much entertainment of a high-class order for those who love racing for its own sake, and are not swayed by betting considerations, and, indeed, for all lovers of equine battles of the superior order, whether winners or losers.

The Wellington Racing Club’s summer meeting was full of interest quite apart from the dead-heats on the first day, and some splendid dividends were returned in some of the races, as a number of the winners started at outside prices. The best price was paid over Statuette (the full sister to Arch Marella), who won the second leg of the double, the Telegraph Handicap, and was probably not often coupled in doubles with either Kilmoon or Oratress, the dead-heaters in the Wellington Cup, in which Karo was one of the most fancied, despite her substantial impost of 9.7. There was much speculation as to how the imported horse, Arrowsmith, would run in the Telegraph Handicap, and, as expected, he ended up favourite, having been well boomed for each race in which he has been a starter. After having every chance of winning, getting out well and meeting

with no interference he was fairly and squarely gathered up by the placed horses over the business part of the journey, and the, field was just about as good a handicap lot as could be expected to be produced at Trentham from the number of shortcoursed ones in the Dominion, and the placed ones were well served on the score of weights. Statuette has shown brilliancy in hack company in the past, but this was her chief engagement to date, and in proving herself the same class as 80-Peep, who has run some very fast races over six furlongs at Trentham and on other courses in the Dominion, and about a stone inferior to Michaela, one of the best of southern sprinters, she maintained her character for speed. Statuette carried 7.3 and BoPeep 7.8, while Michaela had 8.5. Arrowsmith was unable to present the last-named with 41b., and finished fourth, with 8.9. Silver Link, who, at her best, is probably 211 b. behind Gloaming (of her own age), carried 9.3, and Acre, who is over a stone or more behind top class as we know it in the Dominion, had 9.1. Spanner may not have been quite at his best, not having raced for some time. He was one of those behind Arrowsmith at the finish, as also were Hymestra (8.6), Tigritiya (8.5), Inah (8.3), Bindle (7.8.), Jutland (7.3.), and The Speaker (6.7). This gives us an idea of the class to which Arrowsmith belongs, and it may not be too soon to put him down as but a good second rater over six furlongs. What his best distance is may yet have to be determined. Though he was actually leading not far from home in the

race referred to and was beaten in the run home, the difference in weight would account for that, and it may be that he will run over longer courses with less weight and then be seen to advantage. There is hardly enough horse within his skin to cause anyone to suppose that he would be a champion or a first-class w.f.a. performer.

We opened by remarking on the dead-heats run on the opening day of the Wellington meeting. The Cesarewitch Stakes, one of the longdistance races in England, furnishes the best known cases —at least in an important race —of successive dead-heats. Away back in the fifties of last century three horses, one a four-year-old called Prioress, and two three-year-olds, El Hakin and Queen Bess, carrying respectively 6.9, 6.9 and 4.10, dead-lieated, and next year Prioress, who belonged to an American named R. Ten Broeck, carrying 7.9, dead-heated for the same race with Brewer, a horse of the same age, carrying 7.0, both, however being beaten by a three-year-old called Rocket, carrying 6.4. Next year, remarkable to state, the three-year-olds, Artless (5.3) and Gaspard (6.9) fin-

ished so close that their narnes were hoisted together. For two of the races referred to the fields numbered 35, and for the other 34 starters, which makes the results still more interesting. Thus there were successive dead-heats in the same race in three years, one for all three prizes, first, second and third, the second for the second and third prizes, and the other for first and second positions. There have been dead-heats in particular races from time to time in the Dominion, and a number of races in which there have been dead-heats between three in the Dominion, and also in different parts of Australia. At Ellerslie, at Avondale, Woodville, Trentham and on other Dominion courses dead-heats between three have occurred. A notable one was recorded in the West Australian Derby, between Keston, Culroy (dam of Culprit) and Antaeani Keston winning the run off. Islamite, Yale Lock and Onslow dead-heated in the Kalgoorlie Cup, Islamite winning the final.

The Spring Stakes!, at w.f.a., at Randwick, has provided dead-heats between two. Aurofodina, who won the previous year, dead-heated with Duke Foote the next. Then Duke Foote won straight’out the following year. St. Carwyne then won, and the following year St. Carwyne deadheated with Reputation. Instances of dead-heats in successive years in particular events are very rare indeed, more so than in successive heats between the same horse. Saladin, in 1872, ran two dead-heats with Flying Dutchman, and then won the

run off, the distance each time being 214. miles. This was in the Australian Cup. There have been numbers of instances of similar results. We have to go a long way back for some even more remarkable ones. In a heat event of two miles at the beginning of the 18th century two three-year-olds ran a dead-heat. In the next heat they were both beaten, and in the third heat dead-heated again, and their owners divided, thinking it time after letting them gallop six miles. A little later two dead-heats were run over a course of four miles and the two chief actors ran four heats in all, -or sixteen miles. As late as 1873, on Oaks day, it is on record that in a selling race there was a dead-heat for a Selling Stakes, of five furlongs. The same horses ran again with the same result, and it took a third heat to decide. These five-furlong goes would be less severe than the longer races referred to.

Among the most famous dead-heats outside New Zealand and Australia so far as British and foreign sportsmen are concerned . were between Cadland and The Colonel for the Derby of 1828! Governess and Gildermere for the Oaks of 1859; Charles 11. and Euclid in 1839; Voltigeur and Russborough in 1850 for the St. Leger; Formosa and Moslem, for the Two Thousand Guineas; and Fewacques and Patricien in 1867 for the Grand Prix de Paris, but the records disclose many interesting ones in important rates all over the colonies and throughout the world, and we could find material for good “copy” in recounting some of them. Mata, who dead-heated in the Dunedin Cup, beat Sinking Fund in the run off. Mata ran a dead-heat in Australia with a younger rival, won the next race in which he was engaged with other horses, and later on in the same day ran off the dead-heat and won. The New Zealand Cup has provided two dead-heats, one between Fulmen and Ideal, and the other between Warstep and Indigo. The Wanganui Steeplechase in 1883 between the late Mr. Douglas’ Ruahine and the late Mr. D. Connolly’s Dhudeen, and later by Mr. E. Short’s Booties and the late Mrs. Abbott’s Nanathia were notable dead-heat events, the first-named pair in the run off again being locked together, after jumping side by side. As horses that run dead-heats in New Zealand are not now permitted to be raced to decide the question of supremacy at the weights, dead-heats are more quickly forgotten than if their backers had to witness other contests for their money.

Though the meeting of the Wellington Racing Club, which was concluded on Saturday, had bad weather to contend with on that day, the number of horses which contested the eight events gave good average fields, and speculation was so good that though the turnover on the first day fell short, of the opening day of the previous year, when the meeting was a twoday one, the average for the three days, gave a better average than the two days last year did.

A feature of Wellington’s biggest race week was the successful bloodstock sale, for which the Waikanae studmaster, Mr. lan Duncan, would appear to have reserved his Martian colts and fillies, the seven lots by that horse and one by Boniform realising 6650 guineas, giving an average of 830 guineas each. Five of the number were colts, and the Crimson Rose (at llOOgns.), Nerve and Snowstell youngsters (at lOOOgns. each respectively) were well competed for, the other one, from Bebe, going for 525gns. It was remarkable to find the Martian filly from Silver Link topping the salt at 1300gns. This is probably the highest price paid for a numberless one of her age in the Dominion, and it has seldom been equalled at any sole of yearlings for one of her sex. The other Martian fillies, from Tortulla and Torquata, descendants of the same family, made good prices, and the Boniform— Vicella colt, at 700gns„ also sold well.