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FLECHOIS A REAL STAYER . His Victory Over Ksar in Grueling Prix Gladiateur Conclusive. Race at Longest Distance in the World a Rare Test of Stamina in the Thoroughbred Close of French Racing. SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE. PARIS, France, October 31. Longchamps closed its gates for the season of 1922 day before yesterday in a terrific storm of rain and Avind. Nevertheless a fair crowd for the weather turned out to see the running of the Prix Gladiateur, at three and seven-eighth miles, the longest distance event in the world as far as flat racing is concerned. Four went to the post Ksar with Bullock up, Flechois with Jennings, and two from the Pellerin Stable, Shake Hand and Non-chaloir, ridden by Sharpe and Jones respectively. Americans knowing Longchamps will realize the distance better if I tell them the race is once around the small course, then over the hill around the big course, and then once around the small course again. Ksar was at 1 to 10 on, and considered unbeatable. The race resulted in the defeat of the favorite after Nonchaloir had made the running up to the last round of the small course. Flechois then went into the lead and opened up a gap of two lengths. Ksar was second and Shake Hand third. The Due Decazes was alongside of me when they came past the stand for the last time, and he remarked that to him Flechois looked to be going the easiest. Bullock permitted Sharpe on Shake Hand to pass him and go into second place on the backstretch. Coming around the turn into the stretch Flechois was still leading and Bullock moved his horse into second place. KSAR SHOWS FLASH OF SPEED. There was a suggestion of his usual dash for an instant and the crowd began to shout "Ksar!" But it was only a Hash and Jennings had only to hand ride the Franco-Italian son of Negofol to Avin easily by two and a half lengths. After the race there Avas the usual discussion about the reason for the defeat of Ksar. Bullock Avas blamed for seeming too confident, and many said he should have moved after Flechois Avhen Sharpe did on Shake Hand. We haAe seen Ksar always Avin his races in the stretch, so I do not think Bullock should be blamed. The sum total seemed to me to prove Flechois the better stayer oA-er a distance of this kind, and also onec more proA-ed to me that Ksar is best Avhen he is good and fresh, and Avith plenty of time betAveen his races. I have always contended also that Ksars best route is a mile and a half. Flechois deserves eA-ery credit for his game race and the regularity he has shown since the spring of 1921 in his performances. His owner is the millionaire Mario Perrone, the manufacturer of Cinzano, a popular beAerage in Italy and France. Henri Count trains for him, and he has a one-horse stable in Flechois. A rather sweet one, too. Nineteen went to the post for the Prix de Saint Firmin, a five-eighths mile race, for two-year-olds, Avhich had never run. The Avinner turned up in Palatin, a son of Prince Palatine Helene, from Madame Blancs stable. There Avere two fine-looking colts in this race unplaced in Light House, by Con tinned on eighth page. j FLECHOIS A REAL STAYER Continued from first page. Sandy Hook, from the J. D. Cohn barn, and Skyscraper, a son of Sweeper, from the J. E. Widener band. This is probably as fine a looking two-year-old as has been seen out this year. He was in second place for some time during the race ; but Haynes told me he did not seem to be at home in the going. I find oor here the Sweepers like to run on the top of the ground. Two weeks more and the flat season closes. ONeill is far in the lead of all the others jockeys. Bellhouse had a terrible fall at Le Trem-j blay a Aveek ago. He is now out of danger ; but for several days everybody was anxious. In his absence Garner is riding and Avinning for Jean Prat. It is rather unusual for an American jockey to be Avearing the brown, orange and yellow of this seAere but just commissaire. Zagreus has been leased as a stallion to Count Pourtales, and Frisky, the good mare belonging to Lord Derby, has gone to the Stanley House paddocks in England. In connection Avith her sire, Isard II., I might say his book is full for 1923, Avith J. E. Widener the largest subscriber.
