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Count Francois de Ganay center, whose Rapace captured the French Derby, is pictured here with Daily Racing Forms Paris correspondent, Godolphin Darley left, and John D. Schapiro, president of Laurel. Schapiro is in Europe in behalf of his Washington, D. C, International. France j Sixty-Gent Ticket on Morning Tierce Forecast Pool Nets Almost 5,000 By GODOLPHIN DARLEY - Pans Correspondent, Daily Racing form PARIS, France. A record was beaten last Sunday at Auteuil. The Morning .Tierce forecast pool on the Grand Steeplechase returned almost 5,000 for each ticket of 60 cents listing the first three in the correct order, despite the fact that the great favorite, Farfatch, won the big chasing event. At four miles and a sixteenth and with 25 jumps the Grand Steeplechase de Paris, 4,150 added, of which 3,000 went to the winner, is the biggest and by far the longest chase in France. At weight-for age it is open to five-year-olds and upward. Until some 10 years ago the four -year-olds were allowed to compete and often won. A policy developed to conserve the younger chasers from deteriorating too quickly and also to offer greater incentives for owners and trainers. This led to excluding the four-year-olds from competition with older chasers until the fall at Auteuil and likewise to a separate series of events during "the spring and summer for the younger chasers. So the four-year-olds no longer take part in the Grand Steeplechase. Instead they, come together in the big event for the age on Monday at two miles and five furlongs, the Prix Maurice Gillois. The latter event was won last season by Edou-ard Guggenheims Farfatch and it pointed out the gelding as the leader of his generation. Now Farfatch has well confirmed his supremacy- over all ages of chasers. AAA There were 20 starters at Auteuil in the Grand Steeple. Among them were two Irish-bred and-trained, the 10-year-old Early Mist, a former winner of the Grand National at Liverpool, and the nine -year-old Lucky Dome, ridden by the brothers Taaffe. The entire field, Bar One, set off at a good pace. Only Farfatch, "his rider Claude Maire following orders, was held back, many lengths off the others. It was only after the third water jump in the figure eight course that Farfatch came into the running. Then, with less than a mile to go, he moved up and simply walked by the leaders, jumped the last fence in the front stretch and went on to win by 10 lengths. Also owned by E. Guggenheim, the eight-year-old Bremontier, the leader for most of the way, was a good second. J. A. Woods Lucky Dome was third in front of Julien Decrions Ki Ta Dai. Fifth and 15-lengths back was five-year-old Whitsuntide, who would have finished in the money had his saddle not come unloose in the final stages. Early Mist was always well up with the leaders. Both Irish horses had no difficulty jumping with their French rivals. Auteuil chasing suits both the English and the American style of jumping. . AAA Farfatch, by Patchouly out of Farfadette, by Mysarch, paid 36-10 and is trained at Maisons Lafitte by Maurice Wallon, son of Robert Wallon who trained the French Derby winner a week earlier. Curiously, the owner remained behind the stands during the race, afraid to see his horse run. He said later he "was stalking round like a lion in a cage," listening anxiously to the announcers callings. He was congratulated by Rene Coty, president of the French Republique who was accompanied by Madame Coty, as is traditional with the French head of state. It was one of the greatest and most distinguished crowds ever seen at Auteuil. In the presidents stand were more than 30 ambassadors and their wives. This writer intends to do his best to convince the owner, of Farfatch that he : 1 should send his champion to compete at Belmont this fall. We quoted in this column early in the spring a statement by Maurice Wallon that there was no chaser able to beat Farfatch at weight-f or-age in the world. This has still to be proven by a win in the United States. AAA Steeplechasing in Paris .is enjoying a bountiful period, on the day before the Grand Steeple, a record was registered for number of starters competing over jumps in one day. There were 117 in seven hurdle and chasing events. Even last Sunday there were 78 runners in six jumping events. The future is rosy since over 180 three-year-olds have now already started over hurdles since March, either at Auteuil or Enghien, the two leading Paris jumping courses. French chasing is reaping the reward from clever planning of its calendar and from the wonderful jumping facilities laid out at the Paris training centers. Also schooling young horses over the French hurdles at the end of their first season when coming three is considered an excellent means for muscling up -and bringing out the best in the young horses. Prince Aly Khan told us recently he was greatly in favor of making use of the unique Paris training facilities for jumping his two-year-olds, even the best of his classic prospects, though he does not intend to have them jump in public. At Saint Cloud on the eve of the Grand Steeple, the Prix Fille de LAir at one mile and- five-sixteenths for fillies was won by Marcel Boussacs Caraida, ridden by Serge Boullenger and trained by C. Elliot. The filly is by the unbeaten Caracalla out of Hodeida, by Goya.
