1941-02-17 — Page 4

Billy Hill In H.K. In Role Of Spectator

One of the most interesting visitors from the North for the Annual Racing Carnival is Mr. W. ("Billy") Hill, veteran jockey whose name is still as well-known to followers of the Turf in China as that of Gordon Richards at Home.

In an interview at the Race | tion, and added that, while some Course on Friday morning, when Jockeys from Shanghai might not in spite of the heavy drizzle, Hill like the local track, he always had recalled went out to the rails to watch the a soft spot for it and gallops, this ex-champion said that having won seven Derbies and as he was very much impressed by many Champions here. some of the ponies he had seen since his arrival in Hong Kong last Wednesday.

It was in 1933 that he paid his last visit to Hong Kong, and he has retired from active participa tion in races for six years, but he has kept up his interest in the Sport of Kings in the role of keen follower.

In his opinion young Hubert Holden, who is riding for the Li Po-chun stable at the Annual Meeting, is one of the most pro- mising jockeys in Shanghai to- day.

Course Improvements

Speaking about the Course at the Valley, Hill said that it has been improved beyond recogni-

WON FIRST EVENT 42 YEARS AGO

MR. ERIC MOLLER, SR.. WHOSE

WITH

SATINLIGHT,

MR. R. B. MOLLER UP, WON THE HONG KONG DERBY LAST YEAR, IS DOWN HERE AGAIN FOR THE ANNUAL

MEETING HAS AN

AND ONCE EXCELLENT

MORE PROS-

CHINA MAIL RACING EXTRA, FEBRUARY 17, 1941.

OWNER ON 55-YEAR-OLD LAN STABLE CAPT. SOKOLOFF

PROSPECTS

"It is very difficult for me to make any statement about the form of my new ponies until after I have seen them race," said Mr. Li Lan-sang, popular own- er of the Lan stable, in the course of an interview re- garding the prospects of his stable at the Annual Meeting.

ON FOURTH VISIT

"It is more interesting riding an Australian pony. One gets more fun out of it, and it reminds me of the days when I raced in Russia, on thoroughbreds,” said Capt. M. M. Sokoloff, the well-known Shanghai jockey who is riding for Mr. S. W. Lee, in an interview in the course of which he revealed many interesting incidents in a racing career which dates back to 1906.

Since

MARBER STABLE STILL UNLUCKY?

der.

"I am afraid my ponies are not very good this year," he added.

Looking extremely fit and well) despite his 55 years, Capt. Soko- His first Derby success here was

"I have five new griffins, Dis-loff said that he first took to rac- in 1919, when he rode Mountain tant View, Prairie View, Gracefuling when he was a young cava- King for the Inte Mr. George View, Misty View and Mountain | lry officer in the old Imperial Potts, and the following two years View" Mr. Li continued, "and, as Army in Russia and recalls win- also saw him win the Blue far as public opinion is concern- ning a steeplechase, over a dis- Riband for the sume owner, oned, the two first named are about tance of 21⁄2 miles, in 1913.

Mr. B. W. Bradbury, owner of Allied King and Invincible King. the pick of the bunch."

In 1921 Capt. Sokoloff arrived in the Marber stable, when discuss- A Derby win then evaded him

Shanghai and joined the Shanging his new string of ponies, said until 1924, when he won again on

Mr. Li went on to say that he hai Race Club and the Inter- that his chances of annexing any Messrs. Morriss and Marshall's

liked Distant View, a six-year-old national Recreation Club.

of the major events at the An- Courtfield, and Mr. L. Dunbar's

animal, best, while Prairie View, then he has taken part in race ual Race Meeting were very slen- Diana Bay (1930) and Liberty

but meetings in all parts of China in- Bay (1932) provided him with his also promised great things, two other successes in this event, the other three, he said, were just cluding Hankow, Tientsin, Tsing-

Mr. Hill's best performance on

"so so," Graceful View being only tao and Hong Kong. four years old and, as is only na- the local track, however, was a row of five successive wins in the tural, nothing very much may be Champion Stakes, from 1929 to expected of it. 1933 inclusive, the successful owner in every cuse being the Dunbar stable. Mr. Hill scored his wins on

Sitting Bull, Diana Bay (3) and Liberty Bay. Seven Champions Wins

Previous to this Mr. Hill had the Champions on Allied King and Mighty King, both of which ponies were owned by the

won

late

Mr. George Potts, making seven Champions successes in all

The best pony he ever took out at the Valley was Liberty Bay which, contrary to general belief, was not a "puller." Sitting Bull, accor ling to Mr. Hill, was an- other classy animal.

Asked how long he had been riding before he decided to retire

Hi In 1934, Mr.

he acored his replied that first win as far back as 1897! He recalled the Annual Meet-

PECT, IN LOVELYLIGHT, OF|ing of 1920, when he rode 16 win- WINNING THE BLUE RIBAND »ers in four days, and that is in-

OF THE LOCAL TURF.

ded a record to be proud of when It will be interesting to recuil it is remembered that in those that at the Annual Meeting of days opposition was provided by Burkill, Ste- 1899, Mr. Moller, riding for Capt. men like Johnson, Lambton, won the opening ruce wart and Vida, all giants of the

Mr. Hill was leading jockey in

on the First Day of the Annual Turf, Carnival on a pony called Ute. the time taken

half- over the mile being 1.03.4.

That was 42 years ago and as

Shanghai from 1919 to 1924 inclu- SIVE.

This popular Chinese owner said that he had one China pony griffin in World Fair View, but as this animal came down here very late in the training season he had

It was not until almost a year after his arrival in Shanghai that Capt. Sokoloff scored his first victory but he had the satisfac- tton of riding his own pony on that occasion, his mount being Ataman, which gave him many a

win thereafter.

Derby Success not been able to get it quite into

His first major success in Shang- first class shape, though he is starting it in the Trial Plate to-hat was in 1932, when he won the Shanghai Derby 011 Crimson day to see what it can do,

Morn, while in the following year he brought off the rare feat of winning the Champions at both the Kiangwan and Chinese Jockey View Club meetings.

Welcome Morn provided him with his win at Kiangwan and Sleepy Morn won at the C.J.C. meeting.

Mr. Li continued that his sub- scription griffins were nothing to speak of, but in this connection he

that Starlight mentioned

may improve with time.

EU TONG-SEN

HOPES NOT TOO BRIGHT

Sleepy Morn also gave him his first St. Leger win, in Shanghai, in 1932,

oft

a stranger to racing in Hong Kong, having taken part in three An- nual Race Meetings. He first came here in 1926 to ride for Mr. R. E. Toeg, when he scored many wins and was second, on Pretty Polly, in the Hong Kong Derby.

The following year found Capt. Sokoloff here again, riding once more for Mr. Toeg and, as was the case the year before, he also came near to winning the Blue Riband of the local Turf, being second on Canadian.

Rides For Mr. Dunbar

After that, however, Capt. Sokoloff missed our meetings un- til 1931, when he came as second string jockey for the Dunbar stable. Ma Billy Hill was first string jockey, but Capt. Sokoloff managed to record several wins for all that,

Capt. Sokoloff has a son, George, who, despite being only 17, has already secured a first and a third in three starts, the win being scored In no less important an event than the Jockey Cup- Michael Sokoloff Jnr. also shows

Capt. Sokoloff has won Bo that it many major events would be impossible to give a complete list of them, but he is very proud of having had the honour of carrying the Gold Vase at the Chinese Jockey Club meeting, In 1933, on Welcome Morn. It was at this stage that Capt. Mr. Eu Tong-sen, who Sokoloff started to compare Aus- every promise of following in his tralian and China ponies and, father's footsteps. Only 16 years has figured prominently stating that he was more tu fath this youngster has ulready amongst the owners here riding an Australian pony, he taken a great interest in racing, for some years, is

went on to say that it was "a some different kind of riding altogether. get him started in competitive rac- what pessimistic about the More skill is required and more ing next year. He should also do

ence plays a big part in a race of chances of his stable this control is needed, so that experi-

this kind." year.

and it is his father's intention to

recently as last year Mr. Moller he rode 30 per cent winners each

well.

when

in

During that time Mr. Hill said

that he he took year" and added

was Race Meeting in prouder of that than the fact that

he had topped the jockey list.

secured a place part Shanghai!

DAWSON

EASY SCOTDI WHICHY

TO SAY....

MARD

TO BEAT.

PETER

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He is quite impressed with this year's Australian ponies, though he confesses he has only been able to get a casual glance at them, be- ing much too busy with the string of ponics he will take out during

In an interview Mr. Eu said, in arswer to a question regarding the prospects of his stable an nexing any of the major events:- "It is very hard to say, especial- ly with this wet weather; My Race Week.

Captain Sokoloff sees an ex- traordinary change at the Valley since he was here last, in 1931. The track is in much better con- dition than it was then, and "the display of potted plants gives the whole place such a pleasant as- pect it really reminds me of the Russia as I knew it many many

ponies are not very good this Capt. Sokoloff is by no means ❘ years ago."

year. I paid a large price for Gloaming, but I think Gay Fox has turned out to be the better of the two. My other pony is, as you know, Fleetwing."

Mr. Eu went on to say that he very seldom watched his ponies in training, being content to leave this in the hands of Mr. Billy Poy, who rides for his stable.

TRIAL PLATE WINNERS

Following have won the Trial Plate during the past 10 years:- 1931—Mr. Spey's Spey (Clark) in

2.39.3.

1932-Mr. A. M. L. Soares' Flying

Tourist (Noodt) in 2.37.4. 1033-Mrs. Pearce's Trentbridge

(Needa) in 2,39.2.

1934-Mr...: Plane's

Hydroplane

(Proulx) in 2.39.0;

1935-Mr. Dynasty's King's Jubi- lee, late Baron Bay (Mar-

shall) in 2.37.4.

| 1936-Mr. Eve's Honeymoon Eve

(Needa) in 2.44,2,

1937-Mr. Eve's Havoc Eve (D. S.

LI) in 2.34.4.

1930-Mr. Dunbar's Confusion Bay (Maltland) and Mr. Lan's Moonlight View (Needa) dead-heated - in

2.34.02 (

| 1939–Mr. Cire's Navylight (Pi)

in 2.26.1.

1940-Mr, Cire's Satinlight (Mol-

ler) in 2,24.1.

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