There remains only a fortnight of the flat-racing season of 1925. The Derby and Manchester Cups are the two chief prizes, but there are: scores of horses still bent on tryin to corn their winter keep and on capturing the proverbial vay and} corn stakes."
Even East of Suez racing statistics can easily be found by those interested in racing under Jockey. Club rules, but it may be "worth while to call attention to a few points connected with those of the Season just about to end. The grestest amount of money won is the not to be despised sum of £56,021 by Alec Taylor of Manton. The run: ner up is Fred Darling of Beckampton whose £43,613 was, to a large extent, earned by Mr. Harry Morriss' Derby winner. Even if the added money gained by the same owner's Warrenficld on distant courses were added, it would still leave Manton ahead of Beckhampton.
On the other hand, Manna's sire, Phalaris heads the list of stallions, having sired the winners of races to the value of £40,668. Swynford is the next most successful sire with £31,000 odd to the credit of his Progeny.
Of the jockeys G. Richards has ridden most winners but, like others. interested, the writer always fails to see why the Inw of averages is not applied to jockeys' performances, 'A great batsman like Hobbs earns his reputation by. having the highest batting average. Were the same test applied in flat racing the most successful performer this season is, Frank Bullock, for his! average is one win in every five mounts. By the test of averages Elliott also beats Richards, who comes out only third. This' being Bullock's last season as a jockey it is all the more pleasant to see one against whom there never been a breath of suspicion at the head of the list.
As a breeder Lord Astor holds first place with over £35,000 to his, account, won by horses all of his own breeding. To a lover of bloodstock what higher reward could be given? Lord Astor also heads the winning owners list, though Mr. Sol Joel runs him close. Mr. Joel is another owner who breeds most of his own winners, all honour to him. At the beginning of this! racing season Mr. Joel made a small bet that he would win at least 50 races. Having already won 46 he has every chance of winning his bet.
Borrowed Names and Starting Prices!
Among matters of general interest connected with the turf two are shortly about to be discussed in Public. The first matter is the question between bookmakers and backers as to the use or misuse of Dorrowed names when price commissions are being worked just before a race. That all is fair in love and war we have long been content to believe. Whether the same holds good in the age-long contest between layers and backers the writer is not prepared to give an opinion.
'The second matter which has been' for some time a topic of interest to race-goers has regard to starting-prices. As now happens, these are made up by the representatives of twe of the leading sporting Papers. That these two representa tives sometimes return different starting-prices is no surprise to anyone who cares to remain in Tattersall's ring right up to the start of a big race. But the bookmakers press for identical prices and for conference between the two representatives. Whether the "Sporting Life" and the "Sport ing Chronicle" who at great expense obtain these prices for the benefit of their own readers—prices which are also accepted wherever the racing world—congregates—will agree to this, remains to be seen.
One of the chief matters of interest before the flat racing season closes is the publication of the "Free Handicap" weights, for two-sar-olds all of whom are problem-tical winners of next year's (1926) Classic Races. Space prevents the presentation of the 'Free Handicap'
full, for it contains this autumn, the names and weights allotted by the handicapper, Mr. Dawkins, of more than one hundred two-year-olds. Of those who have already distinguished themselves sufficiently to be looked upon as possible Derby winners are the following: Coronach (Lord Woolavington) at 9 stone heads the handicap, in spite of having recently been defeated at New-ket by Lex. With Coronach is Legatee (Mr. J. S. Courtauld) on the same mark. Tin follow "Lex" (Sir Abe Bailey) 8.10, 'Apple Sammy' (Mr. J. P. Hornung) 8.10, Monks Way (Lord Woolavington 88, Tolgts (Mr. A. F. Basset 8.8, 'Review Order' (Lord Barnby) 8; Legionnaire (Lord Woolavington 8.7, 'Colorado' (Lord Derby) 8.6, Bella Minna (Colonel Byna Fairfax) 8.6, Moti Mahal (Aga Khan) 8.6, The above are but a very smal number of the two-year-olds who might win the Classic Races 1926, but among the owners of them Lord Woolavington would seem to have the chance. Should the Derby be again won by sportsman at one time connected with the Far East, it will be by Colonel Fairfax's " Bella Minna. Nor is the contingency by any means impossible. Upon to five furlongs the filly has, few -if any
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.