TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 December 1939, Page 9

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE The Thrilling Romance of Racing AN ERA OF GREAT HORSES AND PLUNGERS (BY “CARBINE.”) One has to delve deep into the history of racing to get back and find the really romantic days and a great sporting atmosphere surrounding it, when kings, nobles, landed gentry, social leaders, and merchant princes dominated the English turf. There was then no place on the turf for “small fry” owners, as heavy betting matches and sweepstakes were the basis of contests, and attempting to make a race by handicapping a field of good, bad, and indifferent horses still lay in the far-off future. The period from 1795 to 1877 marked an era of great sportsmen, great horses, and the greatest plungers that ever appeared on the turf. It commenced with the introduction of the Derby, Oaks, and St Leger, and ended with the meteoric career of Lord Hastings. During the era of great plungers two outstanding figures in Lord George Bentinck and Admiral Rous dominated the turf, and during the latter’s life when he became “Dictator of the Turf,” sport was elevated to a plane that made it a national pastime, and it remains so to the present. The entire history of racing cannot produce a man who did half or a quarter, as much for racing as Admiral Rous, and the turf would be rich indeed if he had left a line of disciples to carry on with his example and tenets as a guide. Lord George Bentinck also did a vast amount of good work for the turf, but he was also 'a great owner with a keen desire to make the most out of .his stable. Many other great stars :shone on the turf, but they were mere satellites to such as Admiral Rous, as they have faded out whilst his name will live for ever.

In “Admiral Rous and the English Turf” Mr T. H. Bird has collected the history of racing in its most sensational days, when huge fortunes were won and lost over a race. Today the betting unit is a florin on the totalisator in England so that the scale of betting has dropped from fortunes to florins. Lord George Bentinck ran many horses in the names of others in order to assist his betting. He started racing with £300,000 to his credit in addition to his private account. One great coup was brought off when he won the St Leger with Elis. It took 15 days to get from Goodwood to Doncaster and Elis was still at the former place in the middle of the week before the St Leger. The bookmakers from their touts knew that Elis was still at Goodwood and reckoning that he could not get to Doncaster in the time by road proceeded to lay heavily against him. Lord George Bentinck had a van constructed and drawn by six post horses, it landed Ellis at Doncaster and he won the classic and a big bet for his owner. Lord George’s stud and racing stable cost over £40,000 a year. He backed Gaper to win him £150,000 when Cotherstone beat him in the Derby. During the Goodwood meeting he offered all his horses, totalling 208, for £lO,OOO. Mr Edward Mostyn took them and sold the worst of them for £7OO and afterwards refused £12,000 for five of them, including Surplice, a subsequent winner of the Derby. Lord George had backed Sulplice as a yearling for the Derby and so became a considerable winner. He was responsible for many racing reforms and the “Running Rein” fraud was exposed through his energy and patient investigation. Admiral Rous edvoted a lifetime to the improvement of racing, and it is due to him that the English Jockey Club owns the famous Newmarket racecourse. An idea of how they bet in those days can be gathered from the fact that when Lord George Bentinck expressed a wish to take 3 to 1 about Gaper for the. Derby Lord Glasgow offered to lay the odds. “Oh, but,” said Lord George. “I want to do it to make money.” “I’ll bet you £90,000 to £30,000,” said Lord Glasgow, who is best known as the breeder of Musket. Sir Joseph Hawley did not think a classic race well won unless he had backed the horse to win from £50,000 to £lOO,OOO. He won the Derby with Teddington, Beadsman, and Musfid, and landed the best part of the big bet on each occasion. When Mr James Merry won the Derby with Thormanby he landed close on £lOO,OOO in bets, and in the same race the American Mr Len Broeck had backed Umpire

to win him £150,000. Mr Merry also won the Derby with Doncaster and sold him to Robert Peck at £lO,OOO, and the latter resold him at £14,000 to the Duke of Westminster. The Hastings era lasted from 1864 to 1868. His usual bet was £lO.OOO, and when he won the Cesarewitch with Lecturer he took £60.000 out of the ring. On settling day after Hermit’s Derby Lord Hastings owed £120,000, and he settled in full. Mr Chaplin, the owner of Hermit, took £141,000 out of the ring. Sir Joseph Hawley lost £50,000 in a side bet that The Palmer would beat Hermit, and the Duke of Hamilton a year previously had laid Captain Machell £lBO,OOO to £6OOO against Hermit, but, fortunately for him, the bet was cancelled. In one week Lord Hastings lost £49,000, and in another £40,00. He sold part of his estates for £300,000.

The English sportsmen were not the only heavy betters, as the French took about £lOO.OOO out of the ring when Gladiator won the Derby. Those interested in racing will find “Admiral Rous and the English Turf” brimful of very interesting history concerning the most notable men, horses, riders, trainers, bookmakers (the £lO,OOO yearling book on the Derby) that have ever figured on the turf.

Railway Handicap. An array of brilliant sprinters will contest the Railway Handicap at Auckland. and whatever is to win will require to register a smart performance. Important factors may be luck in the draw for past positions and the earlj’ running. As a result of her victory at Te Awamutu on Saturday Our Jean remains in strong favour, and she should make a forward showing. The candidates she defeated on Saturday included Suleiman, Gamos, Foxmond, Palustre and Miss Te Koura, and. as she will meet them on only from two to three pounds worse terms, figures are not against her defeating them again. However, present indications are that another three-year-old, Orelio, will be the favourite. Orelio has won only ‘ one rae, but he has some good placed performances against class horses to his credit, and is a quick beginner, who appeals as a fine type for a race of this description. Orelio’s second to Beaulivre in the Great Northern Guineas, in which Our Jean was among those he beat, was a good effort, and he should take a lot of beating. Suleiman disappointed at Te Awamutu, but should not be discredited for the failure, as he is a class sprinter. Orate is not likely to find it easy with 9.5, and Paper Slipper may have en-

ough with 9.2, although he is brilliant on his day. Amigo'and Farland are on the same mark with 8.13, and they, should run good races, as they are, speedy beginners. Disdain, who won last year, has been showing a return to form, and she should go well. Bronwen is much improved, but this will be her most severe test to date. Olympus and Arvakur are likely lightweights, and others who may add interest to the contest are Palustre, Foxmond and Blonde Princess. Konneta lacks form this season and the class appears a trifle strong for Gamos and Miss Te Koura. Popular fancies may be Orelio. Disdain. Our Jean. Amigo. Olympus and Suleiman.

Payable Proposition. Dictate, who cost Mr M. O'Brien 50gns as a yearling, has now started 72 times for 11 wins, 13 seconds, and the same number of third placings, worth in all £3,785. Of this, ho won more than £l.lOO last season without having a win. Sure of Strong Support. Bronwen, Orelio, Arvakur and .Palustre arc all to compete in the Railway Handicap at Auckland, and the Ore-lio-Arvaknr bracket is sure to command solid support. Orelio has been working brilliantly, and is at his peak, in spite of the fact that he has not raced since the Auckland Spring Meeting. A very smart beginner, Orelio possesses the necessary attributes to win a race of this description, and he promises to be one of the hardest to beat. Arvakur, who won attractively at the last Auckland meeting, has done well in the meantime, in fact, his latest work has shown a great deal of improvement, and he should be a bright prospect for a sprint event at