FRANK WOOTTON'S SUSPENSION.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1631, 24 December 1912, Page 8

FRANK WOOTTON'S SUSPENSION.

HIS FATHER'S OPINION. A cablo message from Frcmautle last week announced i ho arrival of the great English trainer It. Wootton and gave brief particulars of an interview. • A full account of the interview was telegraphed to tho Sydney papers. It makes interesting' reading. . It is only about ten years ago smco E. Wootton left Australia's shores for South Africa," where, after following his calling as trainer for "a short period, ho decided to try his fortune in the Old Country.' ■ At'Fremantlo last week ho said there was no foundation for the rumour that ho intended to give up racing in the Old Country and settle in Australia again. It was true, ho added, that he had been considerably put out over the suspension of his eon, Frank, but the fault. did not lay with tho officials as much as with tho other jockeys. Frank's remarkable success had caused no littlo jealousy among the other boys, and there appeared to bo a conspiracy to get him into bad odour with the stewards at any cost. The papers commented very strongly on tho matter of suspension,'and ho thought tho stewards now recognised that the evidence

of the lads was not to be.fully depended upon. Speaking of Malier, Wootton said that there was no doubt that the American was a very fine rider.- "I think, however, that he recognises that Frank is his master, and that probably accounts for his soreness. He rides for Lord Derby, and of course, anything he says carries a good deal of weight." Asked, the reason why the Australian bojs had been so remarkably successful in Europe, Wootton said that- ho could only attribute it to the fact, that Australians possessed mora, "devil," and they would take more risks than the average boy at Home, with the result that they would win a race where, perhaps, another boy would not run. into rC place. . Frank, this season, had headed the winning jockeys' list, and had surpassed - all records in the history of the English turf. His position . at, the head of-the winning .list was.all-the more remarkable when it was remembered- that he was suspended for six weeks, while ho had to stand down for another period owing to a broken collarbone. "This accident," remarked Wootton, "happened at a most inopportune time, when most of the horses were strung up to racin" pitch. Naturally, I was greatly' disappointed j but, fortunately, my second son, Stanley, stepped into ■ the breach, and won nofewer than ten--races, for me.right off tho reel. Stanley, has grown, a very big lad, and, while only 17 years of age,, is 71b. heavier than Frank. He. is quite, an expert trainer, and during my absence is training my string of horses." Referring to Frank's success, Wootton said that it was due to a large extent to the fact that he was full enthusiasm, and applied himself to his profession diligently. He was receiving about .£4500 a year in retainers, and also received 5 per cent of the winnings. During the past season he won the.Grand Prix de Paris, and his percentage of the stake amounted to a little under- £2000. Speaking of himself, Wootton remarked that he had headed•the list of winning trainers last season, winning no fewer, than 63 races. He had,now headed the list on three different occasions. During tho past season he had had tho best let of two-year-olds in.training, although he had been beaten in some, of the principal events. 'Out of this lot, however, he hoped to run.first ,in i ,-,neit. ,year's. Derby. ~,ln.,Jiis.'. stable 'lie had' about 50horses in training, about .20 of whom were owned by himself. If he wanted them;, he thought he, would have no difficulty in getting' another hundred horses to train: but he found that he now had his hnada full.