TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 July 1939, Page 9

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE

AND COURSE Prospects for Grand National NOT ALL THE CRACK HORSES RACED AT TRENTHAM PADISHAH LOOKS MOST INTRIGUING RUNNER (BY “CARBINE.”) Although the Wellington Racing Club drew most of the crack horses to Trentham, there remained at home in the various parts of the Dominion, other horses that may help to give further variety to the at Riccarton next month, when the Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting will be staged. At present there seems to be a possibility of several fresh steeplechasers to give the Grand National a new appearance.

Commencing with the steeplechasers, there is a lot of fresh stuff. Padishah looks to be the most intriguing candidate for the Grand National. Since he won the big hurdle event last year, followed by the Metropolitan Handicap in November, he has been schooled over the steeples, and reports from Hawke's Bay credit him with being a good jumper. Iddo is another Hawke’s Bay horse who has been nominated for Riccarton, but possibly his programme will depend on the plans made for Padishah. Red Sun, with steeplechase and hurdle engagements, is another good stayer.

Erination, a good jumper, will have many admirers if he is sent on to Riccarton for steeplechases. Burwood is another Southland horse who may come into Grand National discussions. He is a good jumper and if one looks back to his defeat of Gold Wren, when conceeding weight, his form reads well.

Santoft will prove a worthy mate for Survoy to represent South Canterbury in the Grand National, provided he survives a preparation. He is a great fencer, but there remains at all limes the doubt about keeping him sound. Charade, the winner of the Great Northern Hurdles last morith, should be an outstanding attraction at Riccarton .

There are a few horses in work at Riccarton who will add to the interest in the flat events next month. Nightcalm is very well, and though he has gone up in the weights he will win more races.

Nightdress is coming on nicely. Roy Bun is another who should be ready next month. Spartan is an improver coming on after a spell and worth keeping in mind for the new season. Good Passage is working nicely and she may go on to useful class.

THE ORIGIN OF ASCOT

FIRST ROYAL MEETING IN 1711. The English writer, “Mankato,” writes interestingly in the London "Sunday Times” concerning the origin of Ascot: — “As is pretty generally known, Queen Anne caused the original racecourse to be laid out on Ascot Heath, and instituted the Royal meeting in August, 1711. Her successor. George 1.. cared nothing about horse-racing, and it is very doubtful if there would have been an Ascot meeting had not Queen Anne desired to participate in the testing of horses in close proximity to Windsor Castle.

“After Queen Anne's death, racing ceased at Ascot for six years, and when resumed, the events were confined to plates for horses which had been ‘used in hunting twelve months last past.' Not until 1751 was the sport at Ascot recorded in the ‘Racing Calendar. From this date till his death in 1765 William Augustus Duke of Cumberland, third son of George 11. Ranger of Windsor Forest, was largely instrumental in converting Ascot into a firstclass fixture. “He was the breeder of Eclipse and King Herod, whose scions have won all the great events on the Royal course. Under the Enclosure Act passed in 1813 the Heath was specially assigned to the Crown provided ‘that it should be kept and continued as a racecourse for the public use at all times as it has usually been.’ The Gold Cup dates from 1807. “In 1807 the Cup, with the stakes added, was only worth £l2O. In 1857 Lord Zetland won with Skirmisher, and the value, of the trophy and stakes came to £590. In 1897 the Prince of Wales’ Persimmon took the prize, £3380. Last year Mr William Woodward received £7,600 by the aid of his American bred horse, Flares.”

SPORT OF KINGS OVERSEAS

PERSONAL AND OTHERWISE. French horses had the finish to them - selves in the Grand Prix de Paris this year. The race is run over 15 furlongs. Last year it was won by unbeaten Nearco. by Pharos. The brother to Fairway again had the distinction of siring the winner this year, M. Boussac's brown or black colt, Pharis 11, by Pharos out of Carissima, The bay colt. Tricameron, by Bubble out of Trie Chateau 11. was second and the chestnut colt. Etalon Or, by Massinc out of Lady Savoyarde. was third. Bubbles ' was the leading sire in Franco last year. Pharos was third. He headed the winning list in England in 1931. His best sons were Nearco, Cameronian, and Firdaussi (St Leger>. Bubbles is the sire of the best horse in France last year, Eclair au Chocolat. Bubbles is by La Farina out of Spring Cleaning, by Neil Gow, son of Marco and Chelandry. Clarissima, dam of Pharis 11. is by Clarissimus, winner of the Two Thorn sand Guineas. Clarissimus was a son oi Radium (by Bend Or), sire of Night Raid. Three of the best horses produced in Europe in recent years were out of mares by Clarissimus —Brantome. Donatello 11. and this year's winner of the Grand Prix. Clarrisimus was the sire of the Epsom Handicap winner. Claro. who unfortunately died at the age of six years when at the Widden Stud. In England, pony meetings are decidedly popular with women owners. Twenty-five of the 64 starters for six races at Northolt Park, about the middle of May. were raced by them and four were winners. The big race of the afternoon, the Metropolitan, of £5OO, for three-year-olds, was won byMiss Paget's Scottish Rifle, who. in a field of ten, started at the remarkable price of 10 to 1 on. As a yearling. Scottish Rifle, who is by Cameronian, was sold for 110 guineas. P. Donoghue (son of "Steve”) trains Miss Paget's ponies.

RACING FIXTURES

July 22 —Rangitikei Hunt. July 22— South Canterbury Hunt. July 29 —Christchurch Hunt. July 29— Manawatu Hunt. August 8, 10, 12—Grand National meeting. August 19 —Pakuranga Hunt. August 31—Egmont-Wanganui Hunt. September 2 —Taranaki Hunt. September 2—Otago Hunt. September 7. 9—Wanganui Jockey Club. -r September 16 —Foxton Racing Club. I September 16 —Ashburton County Racing Club. | September 16. 18—Avondale Jockey I Club.