ENGLISH RACING SENSATION

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24905, 19 June 1946, Page 4

ENGLISH RACING SENSATION

PROMINENT TRAINER LOSES LICENCE There was a sensation in English racing when it was announced that Cecil Ray, the most successful trainer in Britain so far this season, had had his licence withdrawn by the Jockey Club. The Jockey Club stewards held that a drug had been administered to Maranta, a two-year-old trained by Ray. An analyst’s examination followed Maranta’s running in the Scarborough Stakes at the York spring meeting, and the colt has been barred from all future racing, though no action was taken against the owner, Mr E. Cooper. This season Ray has trained 25 winners of races Worth nearly £6OOO. Before becoming a trainer in 1938 he had been a successful jockey, and previously trained at Epsom. He had more than 50 horses in training at Malton in North Yorkshire. Ray served his apprenticeship in South Africa, where he rode more than 700 winners, and he was also very successful in England. Club in Liquidation At the general meeting of the Clifden Racing Club, at Otautau last week, it was decided that the club go into liquidation. . The club >has not held a race meeting since April, 1939, and on that occasion only £1676 10s was handled on the totalisator. Additions to Team Later in the week, A. S. Ellis will receive two yearlings to train from Mr SH. R. Brien, of Wellington. They are a bay colt by Balloch from Mit Muzzle, and a dark bay filly by Man’s Pal from Dianthus. .The Balloch colt was sold by the Hawke’s Bay studmaster, Mr W. R. Stead, at the last yearling sales at Trentham for 650gns; the filly, which was bred in South Canterbury, was passed in at 155gns.

Rider Injured in Schooling Fluorescent, which did not shape very well when tried over the trial steeplechase course last week, was schooled again yesterday morning. Starting off at the second of the brush double, he cleared it well, and with plenty of pace on, jumped the post ‘and rails and the sod wall safely; but he blundered at the next brush fence, and dislodged his rider (O. Ferrall), who received a severe shaking and was later admitted to hospital suffering from concussion. Fluorescent’s erospects as a jumper do not appear very right. Ferrall’s condition last night was satisfactory. A Versatile Performer

After 35 starts on the flat and over hurdles this season, Betterman made his initfal appearance as a steeplechaser at the Franklin Racing Club’s meeting on Saturday. Although the fences were only light brush, he was credited ’with giving a good display, and was confidently ridden to win by half a length. Betterman raced at Riccarton last August, and has raced since at centres as far north as Whangarei. He must have an iron constitution to stand up to the racing and travelling he has had.

Temporary Change of Quarters Bill Gundi, now in J. Olive’s team, was schooled over two hurdles yesterday morning. He jumped the first satisfactorily, but refused at the second. Put at the hurdle again, he jumped it slowly. Along with Vulnerable and a Salmagundi mare, a half-sister to- Stabilise, Bill Gundi will remain in Olive’s charge until the spring at least. Their former trainer, A. McAuley, who has been associated with racing for 52 years, is having a rest for the winter, and his future plans are undecided

To be Tried Again After being off the scene since December, 1943, Botany has now joined F. Trilford’s team at Washdyke. A six-year-old brother to Density and Denary, Botany was formerly trained at Riccarton by D. E. Cotton for his owner, Mr D. Grant. As a tlyree-vear-old Botany showed good form, winning the Cashmere Plate and ♦he Middle Park Plate, besides finishing

second in the New Zealand Derby to Rink, the Hazlett Gold Cup to Royal Lancer and the C.J.C. Challenge Stakes, and third in the Dunedin Guineas won by Foxhaven. Botany has been hacked about on his owner’s property, and is in excellent order to start another preparation. In spite of his performances in weight-for-age and classic races, he is still eligible to start in hack company, having won only £430.

Did Not Finish On Ara Chief was running on at the finish in each of his races at Dunedin after having made his task harder by slow starts. In the Trial Handicap at Oamaru he was ridden by A. E. Didham, and was made second favourite. He got away well, and when he appeared on the outside of the field and within striking distance of the leaders at the straight entrance, it seemed that he would take part in the finish; but rather surprisingly he failed to run on, and finished seventh. The Royal Chief gelding may be much better suited by longer distances, as he does not seem to be able to flriish on in sprint races if he is up with the field in the early stages. Visitors Not Deterred

In spite of the official forecast for wet weather, an enormous crowd gathered on Epsom Downs hours before the race. As was to be expected, accommodation for visitors was a problem, and hotels for miles around were booked out many weeks, ahead. Latecomers were in a desperate plight, and were offering as much as £25 for bed and breakfast alone. Defying the official ban, the gipsies succeeded in gaining access to the downs by the process of infiltration, and plied their trade in the surrounding districts. However, in spite of all the shortcomings, visitors seemed to enjoy the first postwar Epsom Derby. And most of those who saw the race did not pay to do so. Quartered at Washdyke The Invercargill trainer T. E. Pankhurst is at present quartered at Washdyke with several members of his team, and may remain there until just before the Grand National meeting. At present he has Sing Sing, Slglow, Siegtone, Spare Part, and the Beau Vite—Lady Ina rising two-year-old colt, which has been named Beaugarde. Other members of his team may be brought up from the south later. Siegtone is a maiden reputed to be better than the average. She failed at Wingatui, but may do much better on a firm track. Spare Part is a two-year-old halfbrothei by Salmagundi to Siegtone, and recently an offer of 1060 guineas was made for him. Beaugarde is a good type of colt, and is intended for early two-year-old racing. To be Qualified as Hunter

It is reported from Southland that Gamble is to .be qualified with the Birchwood .hounds in the next few weeks with the intention of contesting hunters’ events at the South Canterbury meetings. Gamble made his first appearance as a hurdler on the last day at Wingatui, and his showing was encouraging. He would not have to make much improvement as a jumper to beat some of the fields now offering in hunters* events.