TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 July 1939, Page 9

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE

Learning To Be a Horseman Is No Picnic NOT ALL APPRENTICES BLOSSOM INTO JOCKEYS STRICT STABLE DISCIPLINE IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL (BY -CARBINE.”) In hundreds of racing stables throughout New Zealand, youths between the ages of 14 and 21 years are caring for horses, learning the ways of gallopers ana even living with them. These lads o dream of the day when they will win the New Zealand Cup or even the Melbourne Cup, but the real thrill of the raw apprentice comes the first day he dons the racing colours, and it is accentuated when he lands his first winner. There is little difference between the English, Australian and Mew Zealand apprentice. When a youngster starts out to be a jockey he is generally apprenticed to a racing stable until he is 21, the period having a minimum of three years. There are, of course, such provisos as accepted weight and height, manners and other important incidentals. There must, too, be a vacancy. And there are generally more applications than apprenticeships.

There is, however, one big difference in the actual conditions governing apprentices in England, Australia and New Zealand. Contracts are drawn up between the employer and the boy s father or guardian, but in England and New Zealand it is generally provided that the boy's master shall receive hall of his riding-fees. In England it is usual for the trainer to receive half of any gifts that may be given. The trainer thus receives his reward for years of patient training and the many opportunities he gives the lad to make a name for himself. * In Australia there is no binding rule about percentages for masters, but in practically all documents drawn up between the parties and supervised by the A.J.C. or the V.R.C., or any of the other principal clubs, a clause is inserted empowering the trainer to be paid a percentage —it varies in different centres, but is often up to 25 pei cent—of the total income at the expiration of the apprentice’s indentipes. Not All Apprentices Become Jockeys. It doesn't follow that all apprentices become jockeys. Some don't develop a flair for horse riding, although they started off the right way. In stables where there might be a shortage of hands, lads carry on as stable assistants if they don’t continue to follow their own calling. This, however, applies mostly in England and in Continental countries. A successful apprentice often remains on with a stable at the end of his time, others have to look arouna for themselves, as once they complete their indentures they are free-lances. Some trainers in England ; have schools for the young horsemen—m Sydney the A.J.C. has its own school. The boys sleep on the trainers piemises in Australia, or if their home is adjacent to the stables they may be allowed to remain at home. The posilion is practically the same in New Zealand. In England they may be boarded with responsible people in the town or suburb, but wherever located they must get used to early rising and early retiring. Horses must be groomed, exercised, fed and walked abom every day, including Sundays and public holidays. Strict discipline must, therefore, be the order, or else stable arrangements would not be woith a bale of hay. Training horses is a complicated and difficult business. There are no hard and fast rules, as men have different ideas on the subject. Where one man may fail with a certain horse, another will succeed because of directly opposite plans. , Apprentices ride a lot of work they must do so to succeed as jockeys—but a misinterpretation of a trainers orders in the early morning gallop is often likely to upset stable intentions. This means that there must be a complete understanding between master and apprentice in regard to exercise instructions.

Strict Discipline Necessary. It is absolutely necessary to have discipline in a stable, and on the i acetrack. Handling highly-strung and temperamental racehorses is not child s play. It’s like handling sensitive scientific instruments. The slightest error, and irreparable harm can be done. As a rule, the majority of the apprentices usually have had no previous racing connection, that is, in family history, but there are exceptions. To have been an apprentice is almost a necessity for the boy who becomes a jockey. From time to time stewards have to remind young riders to exercise ■more care in races, but exuberant spirits are often responsible, especially when a lad is striving to win his first race. A boy who shows real promise gets his full share of riding, though, as many owners and trainers lean to that allowance of seven, five, or even three pounds. Many jockeys keep themselves about two stone lighter than they would naturally be if they followed some other profession, but. of course, this doesn't apply to the younger mon. Some arc naturally light, and never get heavy. Famous English Jockey.

While mentioning jockeys, it's not out of place to record that Fred Archer, a famous Englishman, left £lOO,000 at his death. He was a jockey for 17 years, and won two out of every five races he rode in. Altogether he won 2770 races, and in one season his tally was 246. Five Derbies were in his list. He had to "waste" a great deal, and in the winter often topped lOst 71b. but in the season he would ride at 8.10 It is said that Archer's nickname was "Tinman." because he was always after the "tin." Gordon Richards has been the outstanding English rider of recent years, and he is right out in front of all horsemen in that country when it comes to present-day statistics. Now 35 years of age. he became a jockeythrough developing a keen likeness for Steve Donaghue. None of his family ever had anything to do with the Turf —his father was a miner. Richards tired of working in an office and secured a job as a stable boy. To his

delight Steve Donoghue was attached to the stable. He had his first ride in public in 1920 and he has headed the winning list more than a dozen times, and his winning total is well above the 2000 mark. One has to remember, though, that opportunities in England are much more regular than in Australia and New Zealand. On the other side of the world racing is a daily, except Sunday affair.

Taxation Heavy. The sum of £5871 19s lid was paid last season by the Southland Racing Club to the Government in taxation. This amount was made up as follows: —Totalisator . duty. £2873 19s 9d, loss rebate. £5OO. £2373 19s 9d; dividend duty. £3,142; amusement tax, £255 0s 6d; stakes tax, £57 3s; income and social security taxes. £44.

ABOUT HORSES

Chile broke a shoulder when he crashed at a post-and-rail fence during a school task at Washdyke, and had to be destroyed. By Limond from Waterwings, Chile did not pass moderate class, and since being put to steeplechasing had won only one race for his owner-trainer, P. T. Hogan. . Awhiowhio, who is a Grand National Hurdle entrant, is not likely ,to be a runner. He was sore after the l Wellington meeting and has been.eased up. From reports from other centres the following are also unlikely to be seen at the National meeting, though they have been weighted.:. —John Charles, Red Sun, Iddo, Royal Appellant. Agog and Journet. Sovereign Lady is again among the active workers at Riccarton, and will be got ready for early spring racing. The Trentham trainer T. R. George has made tentative arrangements to leave for Sydney on August 3 with Peerless. Beau Vite, and the rising two-year-old Beau Courier. The campaign will open with races for the older pair at the Warwick Farm Meeting on August 26. Peerless's objective is the A.J.C. Metropolitan, but she will also contest weight-for-age races, and' perhaps other handicaps on the trip. Beau Vite is in the A.J.C. Derby, and Beau Courier (Beau Pore —Zarisee) is to run in the Breeders’ Plate. . Most of the riding will probably be done by L. L. Ellist who will be in Sydney to pilot Defaulter.

EARLY MELBOURNE CUPS

RUN ON OPENING DAY. » The Melbourne Cup was not always run on the second day of the V.R.C. spring meeting. In 1867, when E. De Mestre’s Tim Whiffler won, it was on the first day, and the Derby on the second. J. Tait’s Fireworks won the Derby at that meeting, and on the concluding day was beaten in the AllAged Stakes by' the two-year-old. Fenella. who carried sst. According to the "Australasian Turf Register" Fenella's weight was originally 4st 41b. but she carried sst. though whether that was duo to her jockey being overweight, or for a penalty incurred as winner of the Ascot Vale Stakes is not stated. It has often been mentioned how some owners used to stand their horses up to it in those days. J. Tait was one who did not mind giving any of his horses a couple of runs in an afternoon if he thought there was a win in sight. On Victoria Derby Day of the year referred to he ran his three-year-old. Glencoe in the Royal Park Stakes. 2m, and he finished third. With two races intervening. Glencoe was saddled up for the Corinthian Handicap, l.'.m, and a distance, and. at 5 to 4 on, won as he pleased. That was in November, and at Randwick the following May. Glencoe ran second to his stable-companion. Fireworks. in the Autumn Bruie Slakes. l.',m. and later that day won the Corinthian Stakes, m.

RACING FIXTURES

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. September 16 —Foxton Racing Club. September 16 —Ashburton County Racing Club.