THE BARBER KNEW HIS HORSES

Radio Record, 9 December 1938, Page 38

THE BARBER KNEW HIS HORSES

ANY amusing stories are told about the Turf and its personalities. One of the best I have heard came to notice at the week-end and it concerns one of our most prominent owner-

trainers who had a horse in Christchurch for the New Zealand Cup meeting. He was being shaved in a public hairdressing saloon on the morning of the last day of the New Zealand Cup meeting. The barber, with the typical eloquence of his race, Was handing out tips for the day’s racing, and as he deftly plied his razor, he advised his patron to be on Padishah in the Metropolitan Handicap at Riccarton that afternoon. Asked by the patron for the reason of his confidence in the Hastings gelding, the barber most confidentially informed his patron that Padishah, although raced and trained in the name of J. A. Hens. nah, of Hastings, was actually owned by a well-known Wellington bookmaker of Jewish faith, and had been "pulled" in the New Zealand Cup, the Metropolitan being his mission at the meeting. There was. no possible doubt about it. The barber knew his horses and his racing. The patron thanked the barber for his information, paid for his shave, and left the saloon. That afternoon Padishah won the Metropolitan at double-figure odds-a happy sequel to a good tip. The story must have heen true. The patron, however, happened’ to be Mr. Hennah who would have been -a much happier man’ had Padishah won him the New Zealand Cup in which the horse ran

a meritorious fifth after receiving a murderous run over the conclud-

ing five furlongs. Those of us who appreciate Jack i had broad sense of humour, know that on Metropolitan day he ha one of the most enjoyable shaves of his whole life. . 3!