THE PICNIC DERBY

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 236, 24 December 1927, Page 6

THE PICNIC DERBY

WON BY A DUMMY! Surely the young-est runners in history contested a hard-fought race at a picnic of Sydney folk very recently. The announcement that a 51b tin of biscuits would be presented to the fastest baby under two years of age, saw a field of ten stripped to their napkins. The course was at least six yards a .nd the starter had difficulty in getting the runners away. Several times the line-up looked perfect, but the barrier remained in place because of jostling ana unfair tactics on the part of some of them. FIVE LEFT AT POST Eventually the tape went up to let two well out in the lead. Five were left hopelessly at the post, and three were very slow at starting. Over the first three yards it was a neck-and-neck struggle, but then one of the Dinners, with a dummy in his mouth, sighted his mother at the end of the distance. At four yards he was a safety-pin in front; but from that on he took command and won easily by about a dummy length.

There was no betting on the race, as tlie form was obscure.

very high percentage indeed. Thnk* five contests have been won by Cft and six-year-olds, so that it k th« turn again for the younger eQUii* 6 On one occasion four-year-olds vw seven out of eight consecutive eofl* tests, which shows how the race soilhorses of this age. FEW THREE-YEAR-OLD# On the other hand three-yeer-flUfe have fared poorly, only five success* being to the credit of these. dentally one of this age has not scoresince 1896, 31 years ago. More Vooverdue are they. A few seasons ago - had a most formidable candid*#* ~ Ballymena, and on his performs he certainly looked like a horse> might increase the record of borees his age. However, badly ridden l failed ignominiously. It seems the hoodoo rests on the previ®®* son’s youngsters, but more bk® l - ~ it the paucity of runners of this fc NEXT BEST Five-year-olds have fared for they have scored on 14 and they come a good second to a year younger. Six-year-olds have won nine c and aged horses six. Thereto** year’s contest may be won by # year-old, for they are due agaixj course, this is not a sure vay® ing the winner of Monday s rac it is remarkable how a guide on occasions. Wha result it will be of interest what age Monday’s winner c MONDAY’S RUNNERS For this purpose the is produced, showing the ag horses engaged on Monday. . Three Years. —Satrap ana Charter. . and pbaFour Years. — -Battlement ana ola. _ Vast Five Years. —Star Straa* t peBennanee, Eden Hall. Royal lightment and Papatu. pootfr*Six Years.—Count Cavou * and Rapier. Te Over Six Kara, Grand Knight, and Desert Glow. . oD jy si*' It is a coincidence that th __ year-olds are Riccarton they are all well fancied.

On the Improve coJJ< jj. Bizarro is looking in tion at present than be h unpr° v^ If his galloping; he** ol^? as much as his c °nd*“® ’ tharun much better at his ne he has ever previously do • of Flora McDonald will his next appearance at J -ont** 1 month, where he may High-weight Handicap.