THEY TOLD A TALE OF "RINGERS"

NZ Truth, Issue 1238, 22 August 1929, Page 13

THEY TOLD A TALE OF "RINGERS"

Ridiculous Stories of Glendowie Being No Other Than The Veteran Clan Robert

WAS REALLY MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

Of all the queer mixtures which keep m close touch with the racing game, the individual who always has the "drum" is the queerest. This infallible gent, is always right, m his own way of thinking, but usually he gets his information as did 0, J. Dennis's immortal red-headed Digger—" 'E knows a bloke what knows the trainer's cook." This year's Grand National meeting was not without the glib-tongued gentry, and the rumors which were circulated about the identity of two steeplechasers were as sensational as they were preposterous.

THE owners of these two horses, while not m the . least worried about the ridiculous and extravagant statements circulated regarding them, are due for an explanation,- as a well-started rumor often leaves a lasting impression with credulous people. . The name of Clan Robert, the Victorian ex-champion 'chaser, was mentioned by the 'magsmen" as a ring-in for the 1929, N.Z. National Steeples. Both Glendowie and Lord 'Ranald were named as "ringers," Glendowie being Clan Robert, and the fact that the Te Kuiti-owned horse was m Christchurch, but did not put m an appearance . at Riccarton before the meeting; and the eleventh hour scratching of Lord Ranald lent some credence to the, rumors. So far as Glendowie is concerned, he was operated on early m the year for wind trouble as well as for a growth on one leg, and after his running at Trentham he was sent to W. J. Tomkinson's care at Addington. His owner and trainer both hoped that he would quickly recover his form and be able to contest the National Steeples, for, as Henry Rothery told "N.Z. Truth," "the National is the race we want to win." • The Aucklander, however, did not make the , anticipated progress and when Albert Rhodes arrived at Addington he realised that his charge was an unlikely runner m the steeples. He had contracted strangles, so it was said, and they had gone m. Owner Rothery promptly arrived at the same conclusion. The horse had done no work, and was not m a fit condition to run a solid three and a-half , miles over stiff country, so he was scratched, but not before his price had shortened m unofficial quotations.

This was not genuine support, but another indication of the disinclination of the layers to take any risks when a good horse is under a cloud. They were quite safe as it happened, for Glendowie's running m the Beaufort Steeples on the second day, where he tailed off and only got third because the other two runners m the five-horse field fell over, illustrated that he had not the remotest chance of winning the' National. He was probably more discussed than any other candidate prior to the meeting, but the correct information about him was available to c those making inquiries m the right quarter.

So far as the presence of Clan Robert m New Zealand was concerned, that was quickly dispelled by an official inquiry made by the Racing Conference at the request of the owner of Glendowie. A cable from Melbourne stated that Clan Robert was finishing his days as a station, hack on a Victorian sheeprun. In passing, it may be mentioned that Clan Robert was raced by Norman Falkiner, who gave it out two winters back that he had ideas of sending his horse over for a National, the maximum weight, 12.7, appealing to him. However, this fell through and Clan Robert was retired, and when Falkiner retires a horse, he does it properly.

Norman .is well enough endowed with this world's goods to see that good friends, as Clan Robert was, do not end m hawkers' carts, or are shipped overseas to be raced as another, horse. From the Glendowie connections, "Truth" has it that the son of Lucullus — Salvadan mare was bred by Alex. Wylie, of Waitakaruru. He is a halfbrother to Copsal.'a winner over obstacles m the north some years back. He' was first purchased out of the paddock as a three-year-old by Trainer Albert Rhodes, who later on passed him- on to Henry Rothery. The "magsmen" certainly paid Clan Robert a compliment when they identified him as a six-year-old. As for Lord Ranald, his owner, trainer and rider were the most disappointed people m New Zealand at the sickness which overcame their charge. No notice need be taken of the slander that his withdrawal was the result of outside influences. The gentlemen on the outer would far sooner have seen the other joint favorite, Wiltshire, the ultimate winner, out of their way. While Christchurch was speculating on the rumors, other parts of New Zealand were by no means out of it. Lord Ranald was the horse most mentioned. He was said to be Beau Cayalier. Nothing could be more ridiculous. Ned Kelly wore armor, but he would have been m back street company when rated with the man who tried to ring m Beau Cavalier for Lord Ranald. So long as racing is a game, this "well-informed" gang will exist. They are quite harmless, m themselves, but their extravagant tongues are liable at times to impugn the fair namos of good . sportsmen.

Ed his class, and "Truth" has no reason to alter its . former opinion — that George Gould's horse will have a short cut to open company. After getting the worst of the early running m the Cashmere Plate, he was flying into fourth place, and he

followed this up by winning the Sumner Handi*