Conflicts of Neil Gow and Lemberg.: Exciting Battles between Great Colts Which Always Held Our Whisk Broom Safe., Daily Racing Form, 1917-02-02

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CONFLICTS OF NEIL G0W AND LEMBERG. Exciting Battles Between Great Colts Which Always Held Our Whisk Broom Safe. If took Lord Rosebery several years to aria ■» first Derby, but having once broki 11 the ice. tur r.oble Earl lifted the "Olympian prize" three times within the space of a dozen years. At one time, too. it seemed as if a fourth sacci v oul I he recorded through the agency of a chostaat ■ n of Marco — Chelnndry. named Neil Sow. As tin- parent -age suggests. Neil Gow was bred by his owner, and that he had shown promise in his early days was demonstrated by the fait that he was made favorite when he made his first acijuaintaneo with a raee course. The race selected for his defeat was the WeeeV- eata Stakes at Epsom, an event which had been won by his dam thirteen years earlier. Neil Boar, however, failed to emulate Ch« laiehi s ■cfcien Meat, swelling across the ceajrse at the start anil losing ground, and in the end Yalta another mm of afane waai from Troubled Waters, srlta Demosthenes third. The colt did better at Ascot, when- he ran third to Admiral HawUe ami Yellow Slave; whil- at the "Eclipse" meeting at Baadown Park a month later he easily won the rata ill-National Breeders Produce Stakes, after getting none too well away, incidentally avesMriat his Ascot defeat by the brother of Pretty Polly. Neil Gow ran in three other races in his first season, success attending his efforts in crery in- ■ Stance. He was opposed by only two Moderate animals in Bernard and Glazebrook in the Prince of Wales Stakes at Goodwood, and he expcrii need no difficulty in beating these. There was considerably greater merit in his next victory, in the Champagne Stakes at Doacaster, in which the opposition consisted of Admiral Hawke. Lesaberg ami AVhisk Broom. Odds were laid on Lesaberg, but Neil Gow Won comfortably from Admiral Hawke, Lemberg filling third berth. Giving Weight and Start. He concluded his first seasons libels in the Imperial Produce Plate at Keaptoa Park, a remarkable race being witnessed. There were only three ruu-sers. Neil Gov again got away badly in conse-iiuenee of swerving at the start, and Suuiiingciah-made the running at a rare pace. J. B. Jo 1 . colt was soon in possession of a useful lead, and it appeared as if he would never be caught. Thanks largely to Mailers fine horsemanship, however, Neil Gow gradually reduced the gap and eventually got up on the post to win by a load. Seeing that the winner was conceding Baaniagdaie seveateea pounds in addition to an appreciable start his final juvenile performance ranks as one of his best. Neil Qow reappeared as a three-year old in the Craven Stakes, and in consequence of the following counn aaded by Treaaady — A Persimmon coil heioasj -bag to James Buchanan —supporters of Marcos son were able to trade by laying 0 to 4 011. The favorite won easily from Whisk Bloom, with Tie. -saday third, a neck heated the American. Then came the Two Thousand, in which Lord Koselierys colt for the se lid time ran acre -Lemberg. The latter, though not quite w.mnd up. attracted plenty of support, his final price being 7 to 2 against. Neil low not unnaturally bi bag favorite at 2 to 1 against. Despite his earth r failure. Tressaday was again fancied, starting at 0 to 1 against, while Rochester. Whisk Broom and Admiral Hawke also found backers at longer odds. The spoils were duly carried off by the subject of this sketch, but only after a terrific tussle with Lemberg. the latter being beaten by o-ily a short head. Whisk Broom was third, two lengths further away. An Interesting Derby. The close finish for the Guineas had the effect of enhancing the interest in the Derby, and there was a good deal of wagering on the Epsom event. For a while Neil Gow haded the list, albeit he was ejaaafe/ attended by the Manton colt, whose friend. recogsbwd that he would have made improvement during the period separating the First Spring meet ing at Newmarket and Epsom. There were t!e se, too. who harbored "loots" as to the ability of Neil Gow- to adapt himself to the pecnliarif ies of tle-k BpSOSS course. On the other hand, those who s poaaed the cause of the Two Thousand winner declared that all tracks would come alike to him. All of which tended to add to the gaiety of nation-, so to speak. Ilifortuiiatcly. a few days lw-fore the Derby it transpired that Neil Gow had sprung a slight cur! on the off ho.-k. Percy Peck, who trained the colt, was of the opinion that the mishap weald have no serious results, and pointed out thai whea his father trained Marie Stuart for the St. Leger she bed done the same thing a couple of days before the race. Nevertheless, the general public was influenced by tie- oecatieace, and 011 Tuesday of the meeting Lemberg was favorite at 5 to 1 against, while offers of 3 to 1 against Neil Gow went a-lwgging. There was a reaction on tie- day of tiie great race, however, thoagli Lemberg re 1. lined his place as favorite at 7 to ! again-t. with Neil Gow next in demand at 11 to I agaiast. Admiral Hawk-. Ulster King and Greenback were all on the KM to 8 mark, while 33 to 1 could be obtained about any of the others. Dead -heat at Sandown Park. The race was to all intents and purposes a two-horse affair. Geenlvck and Lemberg were at the lead of tiie field practically throughout. Wild-fiower If. joined the leaders a mile from i Neil Gear drawing up into fourth position. Descending the hill Neil GOW faltered aad lost gTOBjad. He was n ver really in it afterwards. Lessl most troubles., me opponent proved to be Greenback, which some sixty yards from tiie winning post actually got in frout. but Lemberg reached t ie point that mattered a nook in front of Greenback. uaries OMalhy was third, about three lengths in front of Neil Cow. Tie- last named ran in only one more race the Eclipse Stakes. Here again he was opposed by beaafeerg, and though the Derby winner w.i rave ite at 5 to 1 against. Neil Gow preened him ■ I- . 0 to 4 behag tie- top figure when the flag fell. Lemberg and Neil Cow were both fraction* at the start, but they were not seriously handicapped in consequence, and it was soon apparent that the issue rested between them. The real race ceaa-meiieod at the distance. At this point Lemberg hung away from the rails slightly, and Neil Gow. coining with a great burst of speed, got 11 p aid headed Mr. fajajag colt, hut the latter was not to Ik- disposed of. and again got on level terms. In the final stages first one and then the other gat the better t" the argument, and when tie- box wa-reached the judge could not OB palate the pair, and a dead-beat was signified — a fitting result to a great race. That Neil Gow was a nailiag good horse, if u somewhat erratic one. in his day there is no iiiestion. — "J. F. P." in London Sporting Life.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1910s/drf1917020201/drf1917020201_2_11
Local Identifier: drf1917020201_2_11
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800