SPORT OF KINGS OVERSEAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 October 1939, Page 11

SPORT OF KINGS OVERSEAS

PERSONAL AND OTHERWISE. The stake for the Santa Anita Handicap, to be run on March 2 next, will be 100,000 dollars added to subscriptions of 100 dollars by all horses nominated, 250 ‘'to pass the entry box,” and an additional 750 dollars by starters. When Kayak II won in the record time of 2min 1 2-ssec last year his owner's net share of the stake was 91.100 dollars, about £18,250.

Quick-wittedness is an essential in the make-up of the professional jockey, who risks life and limb each time he goes out to ride in a race, and at Kenilworth (Cape Town) recently nothing but the most amazing presence of mind averted what might have been a spectacular smash. The field was thundering past the public stand when Lovelost stumbled in the heavy going and threw his rider, Gibbons, out of the saddle. There were horses all round him, and it seemed certain that two or three would be brought down, but Gibbons clung to his horse’s neck, like a cat and managed to swing him out clear of the others before depositing himself gently on the turf and allowing Lovelost to go on riderless. Alec Laird, himself a magnificent rider in his day, said afterwards that he had not seen a better example of pluck and agility on a racecourse.

British jockeys were on the three placed horses in the Norwegian Derby. Fie had the mount on Connor (favourite) and Priest on Alazan, who finished first and second and are owned by Mr Lars Christenson, the whaling king, while Hines rode Leif, the third horse.

A Sydney writer says Gold Salute was set a very severe task in attempting to lead the A.J.C. Derby field all the way, and probably his failure should not be held against him too harshly. Gold Salute is now being trained by W. J. Shean.

A Sydney scribe, in commenting on the Metropolitan, said Royal Chief was closer at the finish than at any other stage of the race, but found his big weight too much, and it is doubtful if he is as good now as he was 12 months ago.