“DOWN TO LAST MILLION”

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21215, 11 September 1940, Page 10

“DOWN TO LAST MILLION”

AGA KHAN’S UPS AND DOWNS ESTABLISHMENT IN' FRANCE The cable news recently that the Aga Khan was -‘broke” in Switzerland drew a wisecrack from -a reader that he was probably ‘•down to his last million.” The Indian magnate has experienced his ups and downs in racing, and his stupendous good fortune and his sudden falling on is one of the greatest examples the turf has ever known. On seven occasions between 1924 and 1937 he headed the list of winning owners—his best- year being 1934, when -hi? horses won stake money amounting in ail ito £64,897. In 19 3'S tilings began tc go wrong, and his winnings dropped to a little less than £2 1,000. The 'following year they were but hair of this sum. : It was In 1921 that the Aga Khan decided to go in Tor racing in a big way. I He got the Hon. George L-ambton to act j fur him at the Doncaster sales and gave 1 him more or less a free hand. Lambton I spent nearly £23,000 of his patron’s money and thus laid the foundation or the stables 1 and studs which were to become famous the world over. The Aga Khan bought a few r more horses for his stud, including the great Munitaz Mahal and Salmon Trout, at Doncaster the following year, but after that tbe products or bis own stud more than met his requirements. His latest bit of bad luck is the Tact that his big breeding and racing establishment in France is situated in Germanoccupied territory and must consequently be written ofT as a total loss. But he U hot alone in his misfortune. Mr Joseph E. \\ idener, the well-known American racehorse owner, had bloodstock to the value of £62,500 stabled in Normandy, ana is now completely without news of news either Is obtainable concerning the French horse Djebei or, more serious still, of bis owner, A!. Boussac.