1960-05-27 — Page 9

THE CHINA MAIK, FRIDAY, MAY 27, 1960.♬

THE DERBY

DERBY STORY

The tragic secret of Humorist

By REX LOPEZ

Rogue, coward and thief. Those

names people called Humorist.

were just three of the

For Humorist, who gave the great Steve Donoghue one of his six Derby victories, was one of those rare creatures who gave all he had-even if at times it seemed he was short- changing those who loved him most.

story of

Determined Humorist's semed certain, he would drop

his bit and stop almost dead,

Humorist's erratic form wor him the reputation of rogue, thief and coward.

The racing career, crowned with his spectacular victory in the Blue Riband of the Turf, is one of the most moving chapters in the history of thoroughbred racing.

It is a love story-between a man and a horse.

started in the spring of

It 1920.

Donoghue, the greatest rider of his day, was visiting Childwick Bury Stud, at Wantage, in Berkshire, head- quarters of Charles Morton,

the trainer.

It was Httle more than a lour of duty. He was simply visiting the establishments of his re- tainers, inspecting his pro- spective mounts before the sea- son opened..

Puzzling

But among the two-year-old string which Morton was train- ing, one caught Donoghue's ex- pert eye.

He was a small but handsome free-moving chestrut.

His name: Humorist. Even after this one brief meeting, Donoghue had made up his mind. Thai colt had class.

"I became fond of him almost , before

I had ridden him," Donoghue said later, "and after wards I used to ride him in all his gallops whenever I could."

In his training bouts for W's Tacecourse debut, even- tempered Humorist confirmed all Donoghue had seen in him

But even at this early stage there was something pussling In Humorist's makeup which bothered the Jockey.

the

Some mornings he lucked full of health and spirit, ready to take on the best in world. Next day he would come out of his box half dozeri, his coat dull, looking as if he would have found it hard- going against a donkey.

But, an he was coming on well in his work, he was en- tered for the Woodcote Stakes at the Epsom Summer Meeting.

is ovmer Mr Jack Jool and trainer Charles Morton, both gambling-men, decided to have a real tilt at the bookmaker's with their fast young chestnut.

Shocked

the

But when they saw Humorist in the enclosure. before Woodcote Slakes their faces dropped.

Donoghue, too, was shocked.

2. For Humorist looked mean, thin and miserable. His cont was dry and dishevelled,

Merion, shaking His head. warned Joel not to risk his money.

"I can't make it out," he said. "That horse was in per- fect condition when he left bome, Now he looks ill-fed and underweight.

have lost stones."

He must

He told Donoghue to give him

as easy a trace as possible-but

to win if he could.

Humorist ran unbacked-and won by a head. But it was, a strange race. And for the rest

of his first season it was much the same story,

He would jump away from the gate full of fe. He would race like a champion up to the distance. Then, when victory

Anti-apartheid on the lawn bowls green

Cymbian, May 25. This tiny Welsh mining town, protesting against South Africa's apartheid policies, has banned a South African women's bowls tear from playing on the local green.

were.

The South Africans scheduled in come to Cymbian for a match against the South Wales and Monmouthshire Women's Bowling Association pà June 10

Association secretary "MFF Gwynn Jode nhounding today that the game was off, said: "The Council's, reply was that they thought it would be a tabublé, protént vélst apar- thald."---AP.

Unshakeable faith

his

And

shocking per- formances

Hot were.

doing Donoghue's reputation any good, either,

But Donoghue's faith in the hone was

unshakeable. Some thing was wrong. And it was not Humorist's fat

"I called him my mystery horse." Donoghue said, "And matty night I went deep- less, trying to work out his troubles."

Humorist wintered well that yeur. And came out for the first ilme us a three-year-old for the Two Thousand Guineas,

But again in the paddock he broke the hearts of those con cerned with him.

He had left home looking fit and full of courage. Now, for the first Classic of his career, he looked like a wet greyhound.

Tears of delight

He started the race well. With 50 yards to go, it seemed vic- lory was his. But suddenly ne halted dead on his tracks and walked past the post third be- hind Craig an Eran Lemonora.

and

Not the kind of performance horse public sup- that wins û port,

But Donoghue's faith was as rm as ever.

to discover

Humorist's problem in the three weeks that remained before the Derby, he spent every spare moment with the horse.

Some said Donoghue could than get closer to an animal any other man, But with Jumorist bis magic failed, And on the day of the race he was no nearer a solution.

No one knew betuler then Donoghue what the Epsom course could do to a horse. The steady rise of the ground the start....the sharp le turni at Tattenham Commer....the dip before the final stretch- this 'gruelling test manices Derby the tricklest thorough- bred race in the world.

Like a dream

went

the

Could Humerist survive it? Early in the morning of the

Donoghue rece,

to Humorist's box. The stable lad pulled off his sheet.

«And with tears of delight in his

eyes, the

jockey hugged and kissed the animal.

Humorist had never looked beller.

It was as if he had sensed the great day, He ran the race like a dream.

Man and horse were as one. And he shot past the post neck ahead of Craig an Eran and Lemonora, avenging his

Guineas defeat,

Later, Donoghue said he had not heard the roar of the record crowd until he had passed the

Four D. Jones FEAR STRIKES

BY MADDOCKS

THE FOUR MEN OF POWER

IF HE FLOGS ALL THOSE

'H' BOMBS TO CHINA WE'VE HAD IT! -

FERDINAND

NANCY

OH,

BOY

CITY

DUMP

SACRE BLEU! WE MUST STOP

HIM?

HANG ON, LADS WE'RE NEAR THE BIG MONEY TALK.

Jockey Steve Donoghué... he could not discover Humorist's secret.

post-a roar that had followed him over the last three fur lengs

And even after the rice Dinoghue did not wait for com- pliments. After weighing out, he went straight to the horse's box.

There he stayed, talking Humorist until it was time go home.

A

One lung Donoghue really loved the horse. He always said: "He did what he did for me."

Services six-a-side hockey

Page 9'

World's best long-jumper

PAY 'A' ESTABLISH may not be

FIRM LEAD AT HALF-WAY MARK

By DEE

in U.S. team

Louisville, May 26, The men who has long- jumped farther than any other currently active athlete may not be able to compete for a place on the U.S. Olympic team.

"Pye got to get a job and support my family," Greg Ball

With the majority of teams having completed the first half of their programme in the Victoria Barracks Six-a-Side Hockey League, the Senior 'six' from The Command Pay Office

Indianapolis, have established a convincing lead over the

rest of the field.

A tally of 15 points from eight games gives them a tremendous advantage over their nearest rivals Tamar (13 pts), Provost and Pay 'C' (12 pts), who have all played an extra game. Now is probably the time to and Tomlinson, for Tamat, take stock of the league and really treating the crowd to dare I do it?-hazard some fore-sone Arst class hockey. casts. In this respect I must con- HQLF v. Tamar (3-6): If fess that I have attended many games during the past six weeks, firmly convinced that I could tip' the winners, only to be beaten into submission by play. ers and supporters alike.

only for the fact that HQLF with five men came so very close to causing a real upsct.

old Louisville Courier-Journal ortswitter Latry. Boeck at

"I can't see right now how I can work and support my family and at the same time devote two months to qualitying for the Olympics and maybe participating in the

Games," Bell said.

than

the

Bell 匪 Junior at Indiana University Dental School, long-jumped 24 fest Inchies to competition against Russia last year. That was 11⁄4 inches short of the world record established by Jesse Owens 25 years ago and Tamper v. Pay (3-5): four inches farther than what The shock of the season. to any other athlete active now is date. Tamar, hotly tipped to known to have jumped. challenge the senior side from "My wife has been hogeither In my first report

side who and nominated three

polentialPay, fell foul to

sending champions and cald that with were determined to ignore re-school, Bell said. "I have to experience others would join putation. The Navy side lost think of her health, obe's just

the face of gameness by the about wrecked it”-AP. Pay Boys let others beware! final stretch of the league com- And so into the second, and

petition,

I

A more perfect the fray. example of my latter state. ment could not be wished for than the Pay third string's victory over Tamar last night.

Outstanding games

The current table shows the three original "lips' occupying ex- pected positions, but into the limelight fumps six gallant players, home of whom ever played the game before, who

sketches for a projected, por trait, Humorist was found dead in a pool of blood in his stable. A post-mortem revealed he had died from a tubercular fung which had haemorrhaged, weakness must have existed from the day he was foated.

When they heard, Morton and such as these? Donoghue broke down and cried,

The

"My poor brave little friend," Donoghue said, "How he must have suffered."

1

Pay 'A' will take some stop- ping and, with their present line- up, may well establish a goal- that will stand scoring record

for many years.

The other places pose a more Interesting problem. Players like

Parry (Pay 'B'), Brasher (BMH) and Link (Sigs 'A') have all the required skill and drive to op- It takes got what have

set the coming programme-so enthusiasm, youth and a will to

dare I stick to my original fore- win. Can one honestly forecast? I'll chance it! The first cast on reputation with outfits three teams will be:

Looking back on the games played one first seeks the un- expected and the popular wins, and it becomes difficult to pin- point the thrillers, having

all scen

However, bul two

1. Pay 'A'

2. Tamar

3. Provost

Standings

The league table for matches matches, I would list, as the played up to and including May ou tanding games so far:

26 is as follows; Pay & V. Tamar (2-7): Pay 'A' the

And suffered he must have, Less than a month later, For Humorist had Won few hours after artist Alfred gresiest race of all-with vir- | A hard battle with Beadle in Tamar

defence, at his best for Bay Munhings had made preliminary fually one lung.

AND NOT BEFORE TIME. WAS BEGINNING TO THINK THEY DIDN'T WANT

THE GOMBS.

SANWHILE THE WAREHOUSE HOUSING THE COMBS BURSTS INTO FLAMES UNDER THE

HOT SUN

By Mik

By Ernie Bushmiller

THIS WILL DRIVE REILLY BATTY

NIGHT DEPOSITS

BUSHMILLEAS

BRICK BRADFORD

FINALLY THE PIVE-STAGE SMIPA.

ASSEMBLED IN SPACE ABOVE LITANYCOTLAND

HERE COMES

THE TIME TOP!

15 BRINGING

TRA FU

USING THE TIMES DR. EASTLAND REPUBL

RITANI

By Paul Norris

THI GOING UP FRONT WITH SADE, KRIS! WATCH FOR VISUAL, ERINALLI)

YEAH, I KNOW! OUR TWO-WAY RADIOS AREN'T VERY STRONG!

Sheaffer's

PEM

Pen For Men

THE BOLD HEW PEN DESIGNED EXCLUSIVELY FOR MEN

W DLF

9 G2 43

Provost

9 5

Pay. "C"

Pay 'B HOLF Siga 'A' BMH

Camp Sigs B

58764958924

WATER POLO MATCH

**18*******

A friendly water polo game, between the visiting HMAS Mel- bourne and the local, team Hol Tin will be played off at Victoria Park Pool, Causeway Bay, today commencing at 6.30 p.m. Admis- sion is free,

me

it's R

peanuts

through

the few more pennies you pay for the lots more com- fort you get when you wear Jockey brand Briefs.

Jockey

BRIEFS

Made saly by

верта

HONG KONG ANTI-TUBERCULOSIS ASSOCIATION

Ah! That Food!

That Service! That Sarssair!

SWISSAIR

ANNUAL APPEAL

ROWNTREE'S

THE

AERO

MILK CHOCOLATE THAT'S DIFFERENT!

As always

ILFORD

Bese

PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY

Donations may be forwarded to

The Hong Kong Anti-Tuberculosis. Association, c/o Laws, Bingham & Mithawa, Alexandra House

or sent

c/o South China Morning Post, Ltd.