Horse Racing

Letter to the editor: The St Leger


A Correspondence Selection in Response to Emma Berry’s Op/Ed’Long May The Leger Run‘:

I have read your article about St Leger in TDN with interest and I completely agree that it would be a great loss to British racing if the Leger distance were changed. When I started training, I had horses for Lord Weinstock and Dick Hollingsworth, who only bred middle distance runners, and I really enjoyed being able to give their horses time to develop and develop. mature; they also improve significantly from two to three, so if they show any real ability at age two they will be useful at age three.

I remember, in the early days, I had two two-year-olds for Dick Hollingsworth and hadn’t called him in years, because I didn’t know what to say. April came and I called him on a Sunday to say I was happy with them and they were going well, to which he replied, “How the hell did you know? I hope you haven’t done any work with them.

He went on to say that there was no reason to call him before July, as his two-year-olds shouldn’t have done anything before that. Not many owners will say that to you these days!

I love St. Leger, not only as a test of endurance but as a test of a horse’s courage—they must have worked very hard to win it. It produces continuing and mature, long-lived horses, which is great for sport and spectator engagement.

Best wishes,

Neil Graham
(The coach of 1988 St Leger winner, Minster Son, is now racing director at Chelmsford City Racecourse)

Short for Classic races, doping, against HISA, USA (more than any other country in my opinion) clings to the ludicrous notion that mare/mare can’t compete Competing with ponies/mares based solely on their gender – a lot of the sad things I have to do with racing these days.

I don’t want any races to be shortened. If anything, I’d like to see some stretching. This is particularly relevant in the United States, where many ‘Classic’ mare and stout races are even shorter than their male counterparts. I’d love to see both the Kentucky Oaks and Breeders’ Cup Distaff (to name two) return as 1 1/4 races.

One of the brightest spots (again, in my opinion) is Japan. They continue to show the rest of the world that breeding and proper care can produce nothing – and absolutely no drugs. They keep my faith and hope alive.

For me, the biggest light is the horse. Watching these beauties run (especially in longer races) is what drew me to the sport and keeps me coming back for more.

Jean B.

I enjoyed reading your article on March 8 in TDN.

This brings back memories because the question of the St Leger gap, and whether it should be for older horses, was a much discussed question in the late 1970s and early 80s. Only in recent years have I accepted the race as an NH stallion producer. Interestingly, I once read Tony Morris suggesting that his love for purebred breeding might not have developed if this had happened in his early years.

I am always appalled at any thought of reducing St Leger’s distance. However, I have never been sure my argument is based on anything other than being a traditionalist. While Peter Willett’s argument sounds reasonable from a British livestock point of view, the move from the perception I had in the 1970s that racing in Australia requires endurance to racing and breeding The current sprint dominance seems to have worked and ultimately, what the Australians would consider, the loss of their more prestigious races.

Another interesting point in your article is why a photo of The Minstrel should be on a June 1980 copy of Pacemaker. My document indexing apparently worked better than I thought and noted. that it was a painting by Richard Stone Reeves. Incidentally, in light of the changing face of racing, note an ad for Moyglare Stud selling a draft of one-year cubs in Keeneland (and I remember they also sell in Europe).

Best regards,

Neville Sibley

EB replied: That’s right, The Portrait of Minstrel involves the publication of ‘Decade of Champions’ by Richard Stone Reeves and Patrick Robinson, a truly exceptional book.

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