TURF NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 March 1940, Page 3

TURF NEWS AND NOTES

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE

Considerations in Racing

ASPECTS OF BREEDING AND TRAINING

IMPORTANCE OF CORRECT METHODS

(BY "THE GRAFTER.")

It has been said that anyone can train a horse until it requires training. In other words, the so-called trainer can be "entertaining an angel unawares" in his stable, but through lack of ability be unaware of the fact through erroneous ideas of how a young or more mature horse should be treated in the way of track work. Every man of ordinary commonsense knows that a horse must have food and water, but some trainers fail when it comes to the development of muscle and retention of racing courage, which are most essential to the success of a racehorse, young or old. Muscle is absolutely essential to success, but the process of building it may be completely nullified and wrecked by incompetence. which creates and destroys at one and the same time. Exercise creates muscle and propelling power, but ignorance destroys its value by killing courage during its construction and consequent lack of zest of racing. It is the easiest thing in the world to ruin a potential racing champion. Just as in the Napoleonic days, every soldier carried a marshal's baton in his knapsack, so does every trainer handle a potential champion when he first puts the gear on a yearling. Many a potential champion has been ruined in The making, and one of the fastest two-year-olds the writer has ever seen never won a race, simply because it was trained by the watch and not by methods calculated to develop speed and infuse stamina as the only means of carrying it along. It is. indeed, most interesting to scan the yearlings, well bred, with conformation and pedigree suggesting future prowess on the turf and then subsequently reflect and ponder over what has become of them. With all the potentialities for prowess, some of them disappear into the sepulchre of-mediocrity or even worse. A thoroughbred is naturally as keen to gallop as a bird to fly, but the mere bird does not try to fly too soon, too often, and too far.

Compulsory Scratching. If a horse is obviously lame when in the birdcage prior to going out to race, the stewards should order a scratching on the grounds of being unfit to run. Under certain conditions a mare should be debarred from running when obviously unfit to race. In any case, it should be made a duty on the part ol the trainer to report to the stewards the circumstances under which his mare is racing. A belated explanation after the public has lost its money creates a* lot of exasperated criticism that might be avoided. Under the conditions indicated the public is allowed to support a sure loser, and steps should be -taken to guard against such a state of affairs if it can be done. Tried Over a Mile. Arvakur was tried over a mile at Te Aroha. He was the last to leave the mark, and was about the centre of the field at the finish. He had the steadier of 9.9. and his effort was an encouraging one. Came From Well Back. Loch Acre has had a bit of racing this season, but it was not till the Rotorua meeting that he got into the money, Lady Acushla being the only one to beat him in the Flying Stakes, six furlongs. In a good finish in the Trial Stakes at Te Rapa, which was his next start, Loch Acre was defeated by Acreman and Joan Peel, while at Te Aroha on the first day Lady Clorane and Pasture were the only ones to beat him home. He came from a long way back on that occasion. He was closer in thc» earlier part of the Wairakau Handicap on the second day, but again had to be content with a similar placing. Loch Acre is going to be a very useful sort.

The most important consideration in connection with racing and breeding is that of value, states the sporting writer of the “Otago Daily Times.” It is impossible to estimate the value of a horse, yearling, or brood mare. The basis of value in connection with a yearling is breeding, and conformation to be followed by engagements. The value of a horse rests on possibilities of what the future contains as a racing proposition. The value of a stallion or brood mare is in the lap of the gods, but can be assisted by supplying opportunity instead of allowing merit to force itself to the front. Some of the studmasters in England are wise to the value of opportunity, and prove it by granting a free service to dams of winners. By way of contrast some stallion owners ask high fees for stallions at their first season and with all their future in front of them. The value of a yearling or an older horse depend? entirely on the knowledge and capability of the trainer.