Thoroughbreds.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 October 1922, Page 4

Thoroughbreds.

RACEHORSES IN AUSTRALIA. ' A valuable work has been done for lovers of racehorses and for all breedeis, owners and trainers, by the publication of “Racehorses in Australia.” It is edited by Dr. AV. H. Lang, of Melbourne, one of the best authorities in tiie country on the breeding of the thoroughbred, Mr Ken Austin, a keen Sydney student of the horse, and Dr Stewart McKay, who has also dipped deeply into the intricacies of a vast subject. The volume is copiously illustrated with coloured reproductions of paintings of famous horses, l>y Martin Stainforth, and several photogravures of celebrated animals which did not come under the brush of the Australian artist. Dr Lang, who is a charming writer about thoroughbreds, tells a fascinating story' of the racehorse in Australia. A stallion and three mates with foals at foot, were the first horses to be brought here in 1788 by Governor Philip. The stallion is supposed to have been Young Rockingham, but there is no trace of any of his progeny. It was not until early in the nineteenth century that horses of which there was any subsequent record began to arrive from the Old Country. The mellifluous doctor proceeds’ to trace the story of the foundation of studs in Australia, and deals with many famous horses. THE REAL HORSE. The perennial argument, “which was the best horse ever bred in Australia,” is touched upon, and the writer points out that it is impossible to decide the point, because “the horses of old had perforce to contend with conditions which their more pampered brethren of to-day were never called upon to meet.”

He holds that the laurels hover between the brows of Carbine and The Barb. Summing them up he says: “Both horses possessed the temperament that heroes are made of. Courage, coolness, sagacity, were theirs. Carbine ran his own race. He seized his own opportunities and took an opening on his own initiative, when ho saw it, through which he might thread his way in a big field. And he recognised the winning post as well as he knew his manager. He was determined fo win, and he was perfectly' well aware when a supreme effort was necessary. CARBINE’S HUMOUR. “One might almost say, too, that he had the saving gift of humour. As lie emerged from the enclosure in order to take his breather before a race, lio almost invariably indulged in a little pantomime of his own. partly for his own edification, and partly for the amusement of his filends, the crowd When lie stepped on to the course from the enclosure he would ‘gammon’ that lie saw something up the running which attracted his attention, and he would stand with his ears at full cock, gazing as at an apparition. No effort on the part of his jockey could induce’ Jhim io walk forward. Then Walter Hiekenbotliani appeared from the wings, as it were, and endeavoured to ‘shoo’ him : on. No result. Now Walter would (lap his handkerchief at him. and the ■old fellow might walk a few paces, and then take fresh stock of the imaginary object in the distance. Another full stop. Then came tbo moment when Walter resorted to his ace of trumps. This was an umbrella, kept evidently for the purpose, which was opened and shut rapidly, as near as was consistent with safety to the horse’s heels: This usually produced the desired effect, and Carbine would then proceed far enough up the running to enable his jockey to invite him to turn round and sweep down the course in his preliminary. Tt was a curious and somewhat entertaining performance, but what the horse thought about it all it is difficult to say. But now, to sum up and deliver a verdict on the question of the merits, of Carbine and The Barb. It is possible that The Barb was the better horse, and he was, most probably, the better looking of the two. Yet I fancy I know full well what the verdict of posterity will be. When a statue to Carbine lias boi*n erected in Olympia future generations will read in large letters on its plinth, ‘C.O.M.’ and archaeologists of a later ago will interpret this to menu : ‘Carbine, Optimus, Maximus’ (‘Carbine, Best and Greatest’).” T)r Lang holds that Wakeful was the Empress of Australian mares. In closing his thesis the doctor remarks: “If the supply of horseflesh is to be maintained, if we arc not prepared to let the breeds die out altogether, then horse racing is the only method, whereby the standard can l,e preserved at a. proper and efficient level.” SECRET OF STAYING POWER. A contribution to the work which will prove of immense interest to trainers of horses is that of Dr Stewart McKay on “The Secret of Staying Rower.” He says: “The question is naturally asked—whycannot all horses run a distance? The answer is that all horses can run a distance; it’s the time they take that is the important point.” His conclusion is that “an animal Ims to possess that it may stay, a staying heart.” He argues that over-exertion when the horses are young causes their hearts to become dilated. They may be quite honest, but their strained hearts cannot respond when called on. Bigaroon is quoted as an example, and if his conclusions are correct we get the reason for the failure of many horses to run up to their early public form.

Mr Ken 'Austin supplies an interesting illustrated article on the 1A.J.0. and Rand wick and the thoroughbred homes of Australia, while Mr Frank Wilkinson gives most sueeintly. a story of racing in Now South Wales, with special reference to tile early days.- - “Sydney Sun.”