San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-02
Epmard Reverses Society Practice
European King Of the Turf Claims American Ances
try-BelmOnt Owned His Sire.

u rue >On Eplnaru, simply confirmed
the reports. Mr.. Wertheimer de-
cided to have Epinard sent to his
racing establishment at Maisons-
I.affitte, under the management of
his famous old trainer, Eugen Leigh.
native of Kentucky, who had been
among the first to bring to Europe
American Improvements in training.
Although Epinard slightly went off
colour at first on the change of eli
mate. Leigh was soon able to assure
Mr.. Wertheimer that he had in Epi
nard something "out Of the common. y
A smooth tempered animal and built
on tremendously powerful lines. Epi-
nard, in his home gallops, showed
enormous speed. Is
His First Victory. -
1t was decided to start him first
at the fashionable Deauville meeting.
the French Ascot, in the Prix Yacow-
lief, race of 1000 meters, for maid
Ell two year Odds, a race that had
been won in 1913 by the great Sard-
anapale and always coveted BY the
biggest stables. Starting at 81 in
field of nine. Epinard simply made
hacks of his opponents, winning by
five lengths.
This was August II. On August
IL, Epinard was pulled out again in
the Prix de Ia Tongues, 700 M,
| where, starting equal favorite with
the smart Concorde, who was ridden
by $. Donoghue, he beat her clever
~, leaving the rest of the field far
behind.
The colt was then confidently ex-
pected by the stable to win the Prix
Morny, the most important Juvenile"
race of the meeting. The field of nine
included the best French performers,
a fairly good English colt, d'Orsay,
and horse called White Wing already
| notorious because of the capers he
usually INDUCED in at the starting
post. As it often happens, the start
! er's main objective was to get off the
fractions animal. In this he ulti-
mately succeeded, but managed to drop
his flag just after ordering Haynes
to turn his horse around. Thus Epi-
nard's jockey found himself a good
20 lengths behind the field and very
wisely chose to canter home, being
tailed off by 200 yards at the win
ming post.
Epinard had not been Officially"
left at the post and, when next pulled
out in the valuable Criterium de
Maisons-Laffitte, on September %,
started at the remunerative odds of
Is to 10 in a good field of 6 which
included Niceas, a good second to
Mackenzie in the Prix Morny, and
the useful Sac Paulo. The Werthei-
mer colt won on a tight rein by one
and half lengths.
Thus stamped as very fast colt,
Epinard from that day became the
exposure of the French sportsmen.
On October z he won the Prix des
Coteaux 1000 n.y. at Longchamp at
the margin of six lengths. On Octo-
Der 10 Epinard was pulled out in
the Grand Criterium, race to be
likened to the Futurity Stakes in the
u. S., distance: 1 mile. The field
of ten was of the best class. Three
furlongs from home, the race was
practically over, and Epinard won
pulling up by three lengths.
Mackenzie Takes the Dust.
Another test of his quality was
offered to him the beating of the yet
unbeaten Mackenzie. They met on
October % at Longcamp, in the Prix
de la Foret Il mile), their only OPP
ponent being the three-year-old filly.
HdDuults Lie IdtttT was sOou tdlltu
off and Epinard was never caught
by his rival, winning ultimately by
a length. If Epinard had to gallon
he carried three pounds extra and
was feeling the effects of a very siren
uous campaign.
The colt wintered well, not being
unduly hurried in his work. as the
StahIa'S fret nkta.ftvn xt-oe thu Dntrla
d'Essai (French 1000 Guineas) to be
run on May 10. Three weeks before
the race, Leigh found out that, after
a gallop, the horse had pulled up
lame. The cause of the trouble could
not be traced Mt once, but it was
found later that Epinard had hit a
stone with his foot. In spite of his
tremendous responsibility Eugen Leigh
waved away all veterinary assistance
and attended himself to the treat
ment of his charge, at a time when
everybody predicted that this was the
end Of Epinard's career on the turf.
The trainers pluck was rewarded
when, fortnight later, he was able
to assure Mr.. Wertheimer with a
broad smile, that Epinard shouly
soon see a race course again.
Having perforce missed the Poule
d'Essai, Epinard was given an easy
task in his first race. the Prix' de
Survilliers (1100 n.y. at Maisons-
Laffitte, winning hands down from
very moderate field. In his next
outing, on June Z, at Chantilly, in
the Prix du eros Chene 1000 m.)
he beat n small field which included
Phusla. a very usual Splinter. On
June IA, in the valuable Prix Git
ronellc. at lie Tremblay 1900 MI
Epinard scared away all the opposi-
ton, his only opponent being Bran
Bile, who was just racing for the
place money. With such foregone
conclusion. all bets at the Parl
Mutuel had to be cancelled. very
unusual occurrence.
King Congratulates Owner.
Epinard, unfortunately, had not
been entered in the Grand Prix de
Paris. but the huge crowd who in
vaded Longchamp on June "a. were
afforded an opportunity of seeing
the "wonder colt" disposing easily,
by three lengths, of the smart Zariba,
and two other horses, in the Prix
d'Ispahan (1S00 M.
Having evidently fully recovered
| from his mishap, Epinard was now
| trained TO fight for the conquest oil
foreign laurels. his objective being
the Stewards Cup at Goodwood,
handicap of 200 m. to be run on
July 81 and one of the most popular
betting races in England. The long
| sequence of English successes on the