ANTIQUE METHODS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 769, 16 September 1929, Page 12

ANTIQUE METHODS

HORSES UNABLE TO START JOCKEYS INJURED IN TAPES Most people who go racing and engage in betting cherish certain beliefs that their luck fails them on certain courses, while on others they do sufficiently well to keep them in the battle. This is even true of those professionals who lay claim to making betting pay them well, writes the Lon. don critic, “Rapier,” under date August 13. ’ I can remember once upon a time finding lots of winners at Liverpool but though racing there is most enjoyable, especially in the spring and autumn when chasing and hurdling are among the ingredients of the fare I have long since ruled out the place as a rent-finder, so to say. That being so I preferred to look on without betting during the three-day summer meeting last week, and so was able thoroughly to enjoy what happened and offer sympathy to those many backers who experienced a distinctly bumpy time. Their worst experience was concerned with the amazing happenings at the start of the five-furlong race for the Windermere Handicap. Sensational First one named Timely Gift, ridden by an apprentice boy named Lowrey rushed into the six stout strands of rope forming the barrier of the •gate.” Columbine might just as well have hoped to get through a barbed-wire entanglement without hurt to her raiment. The recoil was emphatic, for while the jockey was promptly put on the floor, the horse proceeded on his own back to the paddock, where he consented to be caught. The starter made up his mind to forget all about him, and was actually trying to depress the lever and make the start when the machine refused to operate. At the same moment Richards on the hot favourite, Young Actress, and Weston, on Lord Derby’s Forage, were now in the terrible mesh of the ropes, and in the melee Richards received scalp wounds, some slight concussion and a pretty severe shaking. Money Lost Weston was also knocked about, so that for the moment he could certainly not have told which day it was. There was no chance of Young Actress being started, for her jockey was laid out waiting for the ambulance to take him back lor treatment. Yet this hot favourite continued to be betted on by a public in ignorance of what had haptened and with no possible hope of vanning its money. They were just throwing away money, gecause the steward and officials at the stands were in ignorance oi' the true state of affairs and so could not tell the world. The irony of it all was that the long interval permitted of Timely Gift's being returned to the post to be reunited with her jockey, and then the success of the one that had been the cause of the trouble in the first instance. For, at the “inquest” which the stewards held later, they found that the accident had been caused through a damaged gate, probably the result of its first conflict with Timely Gift. I have mentioned the incident at some length because it shows what backers have to put up with at times apart from the unfriendliness of certain courses. It also shows that while the new gate can be a good friend it can also be a bad €*nemy when any attempt at taking liberties is made. But, above all, the incident draws renewed attention to the urgent necessity of every starting gate in the country being in telephonic communication with the weighing room.

WORK AT TE AROHA

AVONDALE PREPARATIONS THURSDAY’S TRAINING (Special to THE SUN) TE AROHA, Today. One of the best class thoroughbreds here is the Limond-Tivoli mare, Volimond. She is being privately trained at the Waihou property of her owner, Mr. Alex Swiney, and is thriving on the work given her. In the same stable is the Marble Arch-Lacemaker three-year-old filly, of which a high estimated is formed by her trainer. Taumai, who went sore after the Auckland winter meeting, will be put to work again shortly. Archeen is looking more robust than he has been for a considerable time, and still appears to have his share of speed. If he continues as at present he will be a contestant at Avondale. J. F. Eva is assiduous in his attention to the Day Comet—Poi two-year-old, which in the matter of gait and appearance is on the up grade. So far he has not been asked to do any fast work, but will be ready for this in a few weeks. " Tea Time is still enjoying his freedom in the paddock, but the other members of trainer J. Wallace’s string, Sir Russell, William of Orange, Lucky Alice, Balle Star and Unique, all bear a bright appearance. It is quite on the cards that this stable may have a good season. Master Latour has furnished a lot since joining the stable presided over by C. Mallowes. Later in the season he rnay make a good distance horse, and even if he is not very successful on the flat should make a fine hurdle candidate. Beneficial Trip The Marton-Wanganui trip will work a decided improvement in the condition of Glenstar. By the time he reaches home the tracks will be much firmer, thus enabling the Day' Comet gelding to show the speed he exhibited ! last season. Thursday’s training gallops w ere seen j under good weather conditions. The !‘outside of the course proper, w’hich was in nice order, was open for the horses engaged at forthcoming meetings. Crown Arch and Archeen both required steady working gallops, and Musket, Grand Arch and Bert Hinkler were restricted to serviceable tasks. King Lap slipped over six furlongs at better than three-quarter pace, and Wee Prince bounded along over a round with an anxiety to go faster. Marble King, looking somewhat on the light side, ran four furlongs in 53 1-j-Queen Arch sprinted a similar distance in 53 4-5. Sir Russell and The Lamb were sent five furlongs, w’hich was run in 1.6 3-5, the first named having an advantage of half a length at the post. R. Hines’s two-year-olds. Art Gallery and King Win, cantered a round and dashed over the concluding three furlongs in 39 2-5. The Lucullus filly was slightly in front at the finish. William of Orange and Master Latour ran four furlongs in 54. The Valkyrbm colt is improving, and finished strongly, evidently' benefiting by' the faster wo.’k now’ being set him. Unique, still big in condition, haa Gay Comet for a companion •'ver haif a mile, run in 53 4-5, with the l at */*" a couple of lengths to the good. Lucky Alice and Belle Star skipped over five furlongs in 1.6 2-5, the latter beating her companion by' a slight margin, and thus reversing the gallops of the P ? * a during the past three w’eeks.