Why Geldings are to be Barred

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 988, 3 June 1930, Page 12

Why Geldings are to be Barred

CLASSIC RACES A.J.C. CHAIRMAN’S VIEWS The recent decision of the Australian Jockey Club to place an embargo on geldings contesting the A.J.C. Sires’ Produce Stakes, Derby and St. Leger has, like many important decisions, not met with unanimous approval. Various reasons have been advanced by opponents of the latest order. In these circumstances the views of the chairman of the Australian Jockey Club, Mr. Colin C. Stephen, are most interesting. “The committee of the Australian Jockey Club decided to allow geldings to run in 1918,’’ said Mr. Stephen. "Unfortunately, at that time, the Victoria Racing Club had decided to bar them, but on hearing of our decision they did not alter their conditions. “Early this year I was told that the V.R.C. committee had decided to restrict their Derby to colts and fillies, and I again brought the matter before my committee in general terms for members to consider it. The question was again discussed a fortnight later, and final consideration was deferred for another meeting, when it was decided to follow the V.R.C. and also to suggest the inclusion of the Sires’ Produce Stakes and St. Leger. The V.R.C. adopted this suggestion. Primary Object of Racing "'J’he main objective of horse racing all over the world is to improve the beed of horses. The French and German Governments subsidise racing with this object in view, and a select committee in England recommended that racing be continued in England during the war because, in its opinion, it was necessary to race horses in order to maintain the breed. “How is this object to be achieved if there is no inducement for owners to keep their most promising colts entire ? “It is generally admitted that the entire has more courage and vitality than a gelding, but that the gelding is easier to train and has a longer turf life. Amounts Quoted *TC it is desirable to race a large pi'oportion of geldings, how is this going to improve the breed? “How is it that an aged gelding like Amounis can, to all intents and purposes, beat all-comers at weight-for-age from seven furlongs to a mile and a-half? Is it possible that a number of good colts have been ruined by reason of having been gelded, i.e., their courage and vitality sapped? “Why are there so few three-year-olds fit to run in the Derby? Why do the fields for the principal handicaps, as a rule, consist of more geldings (generally old ones at that), as compared with entires? “There were 28 races at the autumn meeting at Randwick. and I find that not more than 20 entires started at the meeting, and only four of them were winners. I noticed that only five entires raced at Moorefield on Saturday. Improving the Class “If more colts are tried, is there not a possibility of a better class racehorse being produced and some of the old geldings finding a master? “There is, of course, the timehonoured objection that the country will be over-run with worthless stal- ' lions, but this is only surmise, and is not the history of the world. England is only a small country, and possibly still the premier horse breeding country of the world. The proportion of geldings running in England is much lower than here, and there must be many more stallions, but one does not hear that the breed is being ruined.

Position in France “France has the reputation of breeding good horses. I am informed that there are very few races indeed in France in which geldings are eligible. In fact, many of the bus horses, the majority of working draught horses, etc., are entire. The Arab is supposed to have had a great influence on the breed of the thoroughbred horse, but it is doubtful, even in modern times, if a gelding could be found among the Arabs, while in India many of the Arab polo ponies are entire. “Our leading breeders send many more colts than geldings into the sale ring, and colts as a rule bring more money than geldings. “What serious harm can arise by reserving one race for two-year-olds and two races for three-year-olds each season for colts to the exclusion of the gelding? “Breeders can still import sires from England, and it will be desirable to do so from time to time. Races For Geldings “There will be many thousands of pounds to be won by geldings in fixed weight races for two and three-year-olds, w.f.a. races, and all the handicaps. “Many colts, which are fine specimens of the thoroughbred horse, are gelded merely because a gelding is easier to look fter and train, and can bo turned out with other horses; but an entire requires much more attention. Ho is full of life and vigour, and more likely to get into trouble, but it is not to be suggested, surely, that our trainers are unable to train stallions. “Xo gelding can compare in looks, i.e., quality and substance, with a welldeveloped colt, and I think it is time to take some step to try and improve the standard of our thoroughbred horse. If we omit three or four horses from the last Sydney Cup field, would it be an exaggeration to say that a good field of hurdlers compared favourably with it in appearance? “Why are some people always ready to decry anything Australian? We have bred good stallions in the past, why not do it again? At least, we should be able to breed horses as good as some of the horses imported to Australia, which are admittedly not of the first class in their own country.” BEST SPRINTER HURT GREENLINE IN A FENCE Australia’s best sprinter. Greenline, was recently severely injured while running in a paddock at Windsor (X.S.W.). He put his off foreleg through a fence and tore a lot of skin off his shin. Although unsightly, it is not expected it will interfere with his action after he has finished spelling. CRACK JOCKEY RETIRES Australia’s crack jockey, J. Pike, intends to retire at the end of the year, according to a telegram from Adelaide. He has won practically every important race in Victoria and New South Wales, except the Melbourne Cup. This year, however, he will ride Pliar Lap in the big event.