RACING IN ENGLAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 855, 26 December 1929, Page 13

RACING IN ENGLAND

INTERESTING REVIEW SET AGAINST S. WOOTTON The 1929 flat-racing season is almost at an end, and soon Australians will cease to be interested in turf matters until the cables bring the Grand National result to tell them that another season on the flat is about to begin, wrote the London correspondent of the Sydney “Morning Herald” on November 14. But meanwhile a brief survey of 1929 results may help to bridge the gap. Statistics for the season will not be complete for another fortnight, but enough is known to indicate how owners, trainers, and jockeys have fared. The Aga Khan, who has had many successes with two-year-olds, heads the owners* list with £40,000, which is far below what Lord Derby won last year. As is customary, that peer is not far from the top, and his total is only £ 5,000 less than the Indian prince’s. The six successes of Trigo and his brother, Athford, are responsible for Mr. W. Barnett, the Dublin corndealer, being third, while a famous Irish owner, Major McCalmont, is next to him. All these owners are above the £25,000 mark, while Lord Dewar and Lord Woolavington are just below £20,000. These six owners have divided the plums of the year, and their stake-ivinnings amount to more than £175,000. Trainer Won £75,000 R. C. Dawson, as trainer for the Aga Khan and Mr. Barnett, has naturally achieved the greatest success, and horses in his charge have won £75,000. Fred Darling and Frank Butters are next on the list with £44,000 and £35,000 respectively, and H. S. Persse, J. Lawton and C. BoydRochfort are others who have had good seasons. An outstanding trainer has been E. G. de Mestre, the former Australian, who has brought off some remarkable betting coups, mostly in races of small value. Almost daily tribute is paid to de Mestre for the condition of his horses and the shrewdness with which he places them. His stable is patronised by several wealthy owners who love a “plunge,” whereas a year or two ago de Mestre trained almost solely for himself. Next year he will have Sir Alfred Butt’s large string in his charge. Tlie change of this owner from his patronage of another Australian, Stanley Wootton, is not due to lack of confidence in the latter. Wootton has had an exasperating run of bad luck, and 1929 must have been the worst year of his career. He has decided to go on a long holiday, which will include a visit to Australia, and he will probably take no part in next year’s racing. The bookmakers have for long made a set against a Wootton runner, and even when this trainer’s bets have been landed he has had to accept ridiculously low prices. So he is giving racing a respite, and he has notified the owners for whom he trains accordingly. Lord Derby’s success as an owner is largely reflected in his position at the head of the breeders’ table. Major McCalmont’s winners were also mainly of his own breeding, and he is second. Mr. Barnett, as breeder of liis two champions, is- third, but he is closely pressed by Mr. J. J. Maher and the Aga Khan. Tetratema is the leading sire ’of the year, and Blandford has made astonishing progress to second place. Hurry On, Son-in-Law, Phalaris, and Abbot’s Trace are other sires whose stock have won good races.

Gordon Richards remains the champion jockey, but his predominance is not so marked as during the last two or three seasons. At on time it looked as if the veteran F. Fox would pass him, but recent racing has given Richards an unassailable lead. H. Wragg, in addition to Richards and Fox, rode more than 100 winners, and it is the first time that three jockeys have achieved this feat in one season. Others who have had good seasons are M. Beary, T. Weston, and C. Ray. The last-named is de Mestre’s leading jockey, and though he has been riding for many years, this is the first season that he has reached the fashionable first six. De Mestre was the trainer to give him his chance, and Ray is repaying him by refusing better retainers in order to remain with his present master. The Grand National Field For several years the size of the Grand National Steeplechase fields has

been the cause of much comment and considerable condemnation. The huge prize has attracted all sorts and conditions of 'chasers, and it has been argued that poor jumpers have spoiled unjustly the chances of better horses. In order to keep the number of starters next year within reasonable proportions, it is proposed to impose qualifying conditions in regard to eligibility for entry. It is suggested that the race should be confined to five-year-olds and upwards who have been placed first, second, third, or fourth (by the judge) in steeplechases of three miles and upwards, value £2OO to the winners; who have been similarly placed in steeplchases of any distance at Liverpool; or who have won any steeplechase value £SOO (selling races in every case excepted). Last March, it will be recalled, a record field of 66 contested the race, which was won by the 100 to 1 chance Gregala.ch, and only nine completed the course. In the previous year, when the winner, Tipperary Tim, also started at 100 to 1 against only two horses finished out of a field of 42. In 1927 the field numbred 37, seven of whom finished. The most successful race in the last ten- years from the point of view of actual finishers was that of 1926, when of 30 starters 14 passed the judge. The whole idea of the new conditions is to increase the proportion of finishers to starters. The ideal aimed at is to give the good horses possessed of reasonable credentials a fair chance. It is the riff-raff, which must be grouped on the minimum mark because they cannot be placed any lower, that have no right to compete if by so doing they not only come to grief through incapacity to jump and stay, but get in the way of their betters, and seriously inconvenience them. There is a big weight of considered opinion, expert and sporting, behind it, and merely to leave as they have things as they have been will be to invite a repetition of the old fiascos, with consequntly public irritation and ultimate loss of interest in the race. “Sire Unknown”

A possible prominent Grand National candidate next year is Shaun Goilin, an Irish-bred gelding which recently won the Grand Sefton Steeplechase at Aintree, ove.r the same course as the Grand National. Shaun Goilin is registered as being by an unknown sire from a thoroughbred mare. This breeding is so unusual on an English course that the story behind it must be told. The identity of the sire is not even known. The horse’s dam was running out with other mares at her home in Ireland. In an adjoining paddock were some two-year-old colts. They broke into the mares’ paddock, and the sequel was when Shaun Goilin’s dam was found to be in foal. No one could fix the responsibility for the paternity on any one particular colt. It is an astonishing case, which will certainly be recalled should it happen that this fine jumper and stayer wins a Grand National. USE OF TOTALISATOR TO BE LEGALISED IN VICTORA United P.A.—By Telegraph—Copyright MELBOURNE, "Wednesday. A conference between the two Houses of the Victorian Parliament yesterday resulted in an agreement that the totalisator should be legalised in Victoria. It is expected that the taxation receipts will reach £125,000 a year. IN THE NORTH WAIPAPAKAURI MEETING The Waipapakauri Racing Club will hold its annual race meeting on Saturday, January 25. The programme, shows prize-money to the amount of £750, with the Waipapakauri Cup of £250 as the leading event. Entries for all events close on Wednesday, January S, at 5 p.m., and the same may be lodged either with the secretary, Mr. N. McDonald, Box 10, Awanui, or with Messrs. Blomfield and Company, Gleeson’s Buildings, High Street, Auckland.