TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 September 1939, Page 9

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE Are Juveniles Asked To Race Too Early? CONTENTION THAT EARLY APPEARANCES PROMOTE DEGENERACY “SEVEN BEST HORSES OF ALL TIME” (BY “CARBINE.”) Once again the much discussed question, “Are juveniles asked to race too early?” is occupying the attention ofmany of those interested in horse racing. It is contended ithat early appearances tend to promote degeneracy, but history refutes this. For years it has been argued that there is too much two-year-old racing in the Dominion and also in England.

It is generally recognised by those who are interested in the sport that there are some juveniles of medium growth who came to hand quickly they are what is commonly termed ready-made gallopers. Youngsters of this type probably suffer no great harm by racing in September/ However, with clubs catering .for two-year-olds early .in the term and offering valuable stakes, owners are encouraged to take the leap in the dark and test their youngsters, many of whom might be overgrown, instead of following the proper course and leaving them alone till the autumn. A case in support of this contention is Grand Flaneur, who carried all before him at two and three years but lasted only to the autumn of his three-year-old career, when leg troubles necessitated his retirement. Would he have lasted longer had he not been tested so early? Many will have it so. Then by way of contrast old-timers would quote Carbine, who raced at two years and was at the top of his form at five years old. The list of those juveniles who did not commence their careers till October or November also contains many who later on built up wonderful records, and included therein are such famous horses as Gladsome, Warstep, Count Cavour. Limerick, Nightmarch, Concentrate, Royal Chief, Defaulter, Peerless, Beaulivre, Beaupartir. There will never be a satisfactory settlement of the point at issue. Some youngsters are bred for early racing, others are not. Some horses mature quickly, others require a lot of time and patience before they are ready to develop any ability. Two able English practitioners, the late John Porter and the late Sam Darling, were in disagreement as to the most favourable foaling time for thoroughbreds, and they were, of course, closely acquainted with the best breeds of that period, but their two-year-olds were not asked to race until' summer had been almost entered upon. ■?' " One English authority, in urging the abolition of early-season two-year-old racing said: “We possess the finest bloodstock in the world, but in its rich possession we have perhaps forgotten or overlooked the fact that maintenance of the standard must always depend upon the stayer. “I believe that during the last fifteen years we have lost two generations of breeding and that without loss of time we must cut out two-year-old racing

before Ascot (over five months after the opening of the season), and in every programme present races of one and a half miles to two miles for the stayers.” In the old days in New Zealand quite a number of noteworthy horses did not race as two-year-olds, but nowadays not many are allowed to enjoy the oats of idleness at that age. The Auckland-bred Martini-Henry, who won the Victoria Derby and Melbourne Cup of 1883, was not called on to race until he had attained the age of three years, and the same policy was pursued with Nordenfeldt, winner of the A.J.C. herby and Victoria Derby of 1885. “THE SEVEN GREATEST” AMERICAN WRITER’S OPINION. Caliente Bill, American sports writer, rates the “seven best horses of all time” in the following order: Phar Lap Kingston, Gloaming, Exterminator, Equipose. Sun Beau and Top Flight. Evidently Caliente Bill has not heard of St Simon, Man o’ War, Ormonde, Carbine, Isinglass, Sysonby, Peter Pan, Ajax or Defaulter. “Carbine” suspects that Mr Bill estimates the class of a horse by the amount of money it wins. Otherwise he could not possibly include several of those in his list as among the “seven best of all time.” Top Flight has won more money than any other horse of her sex. It is significant, however, that she failed 'when pitted against the best colts, and that she was not a real stayer. Compare her form in this respect with that of Pretty Polly, Sceptre, La Fleche, and Rockfel, the present English champion. These mares competed successfully against the best of the other sex, and Rockfel would doubtless’"lose” Top Flight over a distance. In Australia there have been mares capable' of holding their own against the best colts over a distance—and, on occasion, defeat them. Among these mares were Carlita (Victoria Derby and three miles Champion Stakes), Wakeful, La Carabine, Quiver, and Sarcherie. New Zealand’s mares, sot merely great against their own sex, included Cruciform, Gladsome, Warstep, and Desert Gold. Perhaps Mr Caliente Bill is a bit of a wag, or leg-puller; maybe he’s trying to “start something.” A number of good American judges would probably be equal to picking another "seven greatest of all time” without including more than two or three of Bill’s “seven.” Doubtless they would begin with Man o’ War and go to England and Australasia for some of the others. Not a few in America regarded Sysonby (son of Melton) as “one of the greatest.” AH New Zealanders and Australians could pick three in their own countries —Phar Lap, Carbine, and Peter Pan.

It would have been illuminating to see some of the Caliente Bill “seven” up against Carbine, Phar Lap, or Peter Pan in the Melbourne Cup carrying 10.5, 9.12, and 9.10, the weights with which those champions won the great two miles race at Flemington. Also, it would have been interesting, though doubtless not amusing, to see them against St Simon in the Ascot Cup.

RACING FIXTURES

September 21, 23— Geraldine Racing Club. September 23—Marton Jockey Club. September 30.—Otaki-Maori Racing Club. September 30, October 2. —Ohinemuri Jockey Club. October 5, 7—Dunedin Jockey Club. October 5, 7.—Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club. October 7.—Bay of Plenty Racing Club. October 9.—Rotorua and Bay of Plenty Hunt Club. October 12, 14—Masterton Racing Club. October 14—South Canterbury Jockey Club.