THE CHINA MAIL, JUNE 1, 1938
Can Any Horse Beat Pasch?
Famous Epsom Derby To-day
must be taken on trust, but his breeding should ensure that he has the necessary stamina. Ho is trained at Beckhampton by Fred Darling, who has trained four Derby winners since the war. His opinion carries enormous weight and he thinks Pasch is quite good enough to win the classic. Moreover, if the rain does not come before the race in at 7-2, was ridden into the lead two sufficient quantity to soften the sur- IN THE YEAR OF GRACE 1779, THE
EARL OF furlongs out by Gordon Richards and face considerably, the firm going will
suit Pasch more, perhaps, than DERBY DECIDED TO ENTERTAIN HIS FRIENDS BY ORGAN-went on to win easily.
Pasch started favourite at 5-2 for other horse in the race. He is light- ISING A RACE OVER EPSOM DOWNS ON A SWEEPSTAKE
his second race, the Two Thousand actioned and rebounds almost capri-
LONDON, MAY 17. 12TH.
BASIS. THE EARL TOOK IMMENSE PRIDE IN THE STAL- Guineas. Again ridden by Gordon ciously from the bone-dry track.
any
WART TREES ON HIS COUNTRY AND, THE RACE WAS NAM-Richards, who is also riding him in
The only adverse criticism that has ED THE EPSOM OAKS. HIS HORSE, BRIDGET, WON THE RACE. the Derby, Pasch led almost through been passed against Pasch is that, bo-
out to beat Scottish Union, Mirza II, Elated with his initial success, the Earl, in the following year, Portmarnock, Unbreakable and Pounding still somewhat green,' he is in- clined to wander. It was obvious, 1780, inaugurated a race of one and a half miles for three-year-olds, Foolish.
As both the. Guineas and the however, in both his races, that when The race was duly run on May 4 over the course that had so fav-
this did happen, he responded Coventry Stakes are mile-long readily to the magic hands of Gordon oured the Earl in the previous year, and was won by Sir Charles
races. Pasch's ability to manage Richards. Banbury's chestnut colt Diomed, who started at 6 to 4 in a field of
the additional half-mile at Epsom (Continued on Page 20) nine. The race was worth £1,075 guineas.
No name was officially given to this race, but it was famil- iarly referred to as the "Epsom Derby." The name stuck and the race prospered until to-day it is universally regarded as the race for the Blue Riband of the world's Turf.
The Derby is probably more discussed than any other sport- ing event in the world.
It pro- vokes both polite drawing-room discussion and heated argument.
The greater the uncertainty of the result of a horserace, the more the en- joyment, the greater the thrill at the finish. That one horse which stands out, obviously superior to all rivals. How could there be, when the pick of the Turf assembles at one meeting? Bahram, the 1935 winner, was a 5- favourite, while the second favourite, Hairan, was on offer at 5-1. This was, however; very exceptional.
LATEST CALL-OVER
excep-
This year may also prove tional. At the last callover, Pasch, Mr. H. E. Morriss's winner of the Two Thousand Guineas, was an easy favourite at 2-1. The nearest chal- lenger in the betting was Scottish Union.
.
Here is the betting:
Pasch (Mr. H. E. Morriss)—Fred Darling 2-1.
Golden Sovereign (Sir Abe Bailey)- H. L. Cottrill 21—2.
Portmarnock (Sir Humphrey Trafford)-Boyd-Rochfort 16-1.
de
Scottish Union (Mr. James V. Rank)
-N. Cannon 19-2.
Pound Foolish (Lord Astor)—Law- son 15-1.
Mirza II (H. H. Aga Khan)-Frank Butters 15-1.
Malabar (Col. H. S. Follett)-R. Dawson 281.
Troon (Mr. J. A. Dewar)-Fred Darling 33-1.
At one stage of the betting, almost immediately after the victory of Pasch in the Two Thousand Guineas, the three most favoured horses were the three Pa-Pasch, Portmarnock. and Pound Foolish. It will be cur- ious if they gain the first three places. The long period of drought this year has meant extremely hard going on every track in the country. The result has been that we have seon much less than usual of Derby pro- bables. Owners and trainers have not been willing to risk damaging their horses on the iron surfaces.
This also means, of course; that a change to more yielding conditions by the time of the race would alter chances a great deal. Of the favour. ites, the chances of Portmarnock and Pound Foolish would improve at the expense of Pasch and Golden Sover- eign, who do not find the firm going such a 'setback.
RECORD OF PASCH Pasch, a brown colt, by Blandford out of Pasta, has only run in two races, winning them both comfort- ably. As a two-year-old, Pasch did not run at all. This says much for the bellef by some racing authorities that a horse ultimately races better if it is kept off the course until it is three years old.
The Coventry Stakes, run, over the mile-long Jubilee Course, at Kempton, was Pasch's first race. The favourite was Unbreakable, at 2-1, but Pasch,
HB
HAVE AN H.B. AND THEN TRY"
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