Hurdle Race Was A Great Farce

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 374, 7 June 1928, Page 6

Hurdle Race Was A Great Farce

A considerable amount of entertainment was afforded the spectators at Ellerslie yesterday for a period of five minutes, but it was a costly affair for the majority. Summed up, the total cost consisted of a jockey’s two broken ribs and the sending- into the air of £3,702 that the backers of the winner of the race might benefit. Responsible for this totally unexpected contretemps were the four horses that were saddled up to contest the Campbell Hurdles, the principal event over the battens at the conclusion of the Auckland winter meeting. These four were the only acceptors, and the race was regarded as the best of good things for Aberfeldy, who two days earlier had finished second to that fine performer, Red Fuchsia. As a contributing factor to the popular choice, Auckland’s own S. Henderson was the rider. The Forlorn Hope Aberfeldy carried £2,038£, and Mia Bella, second in the Great Northern Hurdles, was second fancy with £1,323, or a little more than the amount invested on Peneus, while the fourth runner, Glencanny, was neglected. He was only backed as a sort of forlorn hope. That it nearly came off shows what a great game horseracing is! The tragedy commenced early; at the very first fence in fact. The quartet got away to a moving start, Peneus dwelling and losing a couple of lengths. Perhaps it was this very fact that saved him from meeting the same fate as his opponents. Had Peneus been up with the leaders he might well have participated in the debacle at the initial hurdle. Too Anxious Away they rushed to cover the 200 yards to the first obstacle —the same that had tipped up Brigadier Bill, Wenday, Kaihoremai, Kilburn and Maunga earlier in the day—and it did seem as if Aberfeldy and Mia Bella, drawing away from the other pair, had started on a six-furlong sprint rather than a two-mile contest over the sticks. There was some excuse for Aberfeldy, who is a hard puller. At anyrate, they rose at the first hurdle, the Southerner hesitating a bit at the take-off, and then they both crashed heavily. Henderson was up almost immediately, exhibiting a limp, and ho hastened to assist Mcßae, the latter being sent to the casualty room within a few minutes. The first fence, and the two best-backed horses were out of it! An Exercise Gallop From this out the race was an easy on© for Peneus, who was never going at more than a strong work pace, as the times showed—l.s9 1-5 for the first mile, 2.57 3-5 for the mile and a-lialf. and a tick under a minute for the final half, making 3.56 3-5 for the two miles. Glencanny failed to show the 'iace between the jumps that at one stage of his career, many seasons ago, won for him some pretty good handicaps,

and with a little over half a mile his rider was at him with the whip on the flat, as well as punching him into his fences. Peneus had little difficulty in keeping about fifty yards ahead of the veteran, who was expected to crash at almost every fence. Th ree From Four Leaves One The inevitable happened, for Glencanny fell at the second to last obstacle, giving A. McGregor a nasty fall.

Fortunately the horse stopped, and no doubt gazed in considerable surprise at the spectacle of his rider adopting the horizontal attitude. McGregor was soon up and in the saddle again before Peneus rose at the last fence —a smart piece of work. But the race was not over yet, not by a long way. Just as Peneus passed the winning post Glencanny, with his rider minus his skull cap, went at the final hurdle—and he fell again. One would have thought that McGregor had had enough by then, and the horse similarly, but the rider proved to be as tough as ever the clan sent out into a hard and cruel world. Third Time Lucky Glencanny recoveerd from his fall and cantered fifty yards up the straight, where a policeman caught the horse and held him. Then McGregor sprinted along, was given a helping hand into the saddle, and he was cheered vociferously as he went past the judge to complete the course to get. second money. And never was that £ 100 better earned. Nor was the wee dock and doris that his shaken rider was proffered. It was as game a piece of horsemanship as one could wish to see. And old Glencanny, entering the birdcage, held his head high as if he too were proud of his rider—and of himself. Incidentally, the writer owes the horse an apology, for in reviewing the race the day before opined that “Glencanny will be fourth.” The amende honorable is made herewith. Wanted the £SO. After she had fallen, Mia Bella was lup quickly and she chased Peneus all

the way, threatening to hamper him or more than one occasion. But Alim Me Donald was taking no chances, at. kept out of harm’s way. Incidentally after he had won, Peneus wanted to g around again—to show the others bo~ it should be done?—and McDonald hae a hard job to pull him up, being successful nearly three furlongs past th post. Aberfeldy careered up the hill along side the Ladies’ Mile, where the cletof the course secured him. The hors was then mounted by a spectator, who rode him back to the birdcage. Out* side that paddock he was heard to Inquire, “What about the £SO for thirplace?” Of course, Aberfeldy did ncr complete the full hurdle course, so I was not forthcoming, the A.R.C. by * special rule retaining that. In f&ct, * was not allowed to enter the birdcil* By the way, the official decision stated that Peneus won by 300 yards Won by a minute and a-half woo*, have been nearer the mark! So ended one of the most remarks® 1 races seen at Ellerslie for many a y**-