Francis Drake’s Defeat.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 390, 23 March 1937, Page 7

Francis Drake’s Defeat.

Mr Frank Orijistrang’t colt, Francis Drake, was considered to be one ,of the best propositions for the Wellington meeting, but he was beaten out of the money in the North Island Challenge Stakbs. His sensational collapse Was an unpleasant surprise Cor his backers, and also for his stable, but the probable explanation for the colt’s failure is that be had a cold, of which there was no sign when he went out to do his preliminary. The. “pipe-opener" was all that was needed to supply the evidence of the cold, for by the time Francis Drake was turned into the barrier there Was quite a discharge from his nose. His jockey, W. Broughton noticed it, and it is understood, so did also one of the Racing Club’s officials. Francis Drake took part in the race —he would not have been saddled up if it had been known that he was not himself —and lie was showing definite signs of the cold when he returned to the birdcage.