view raw text
HIGH CLASS JUMPERS One of the most remarkable and gratifying developments of the eastern racing season is the improvement in jumping events The num numb ¬ ber beer of horses capable of getting over the ob ¬ stacles stales in good style is surprising and there have been some sensational finishes includ include ¬ ing King that of Decapod Decapods at Sheepshead Shepherd Bay and of Equerry at Brighton Beach last Saturday Sydney Pagets Pages grand chaser Shillalah Shillelagh has been a regretted absentee lately and his re ¬ turn to active service is eagerly awaited It was confidently hoped he would turn out for the Punchestowu Punchiest Steeplechase on Saturday and the presumption is that he is being re ¬ served for better things There are rumors that he will be sent abroad in the fall for a campaign in England and Ireland with his stable companion Sir Vassar as sidbpart sidebar ner near Sir Vassar is almost as smart over the hurdles as Shillalah Shillelagh is at steeplechasing steeplechase and the pair should give a good account of themselves if judiciously placed in races on the other side Shillalah Shillelagh is about the only chaser seen here in recent years who would have a chance of jumping the Grand National or Punchestown Punchiest courses at the pace set in these events while there is no reason except bad tem ¬ per to prevent Sir Vassar from holding his own in any company over the sticks That other American owners do not hesitate to enter horses against this grand pair is accepted as satisfactory proof that the arduous work of the National Hunt Association is bear ¬ ing King rich fruit and that the class of our chasers is rapidly reaching par As much can ¬ not be said of the crosscountry crosscut jockeys how ¬ ever and there is ample room for recruiting in this department Mattocks the Canadian rider who showed up on the back of Equerry last Saturday was a notable exception He rode with patience judgment and dash com ¬ bined binned and the masterly manner in which he literally pulled the race out of the fire won for him many friends as well as offers of fat en ¬ gagements arguments for the balance of the season A few such races every week without a flavor of suspicion would be heartily appreciated New lorn loran Sun i
