THE BLUE AND BUFF.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 57, 14 April 1914, Page 7

THE BLUE AND BUFF.

AND CHUDIC.

HOW THE GREAT EASTER WAS WON.

Specially written for THE SUN.

•'I don't think the belief that No. 13 is an unlucky number can "be sustained after to-day,'' said the owner of the winner of the big event yesterday after the race. "My horse was 13 on the card, his rider is 13 years old, he drew 13th place, it was the horse's 13th start, and the date is the 13th." What Mr Hart said .was certainly correct. And 13 should be the lucky number of those who participated in the dividend of nearly "a monkey" paid by Chudic' All day at Riccarton the conversation of the sports drifted invariably from the then present fixture to the Easter. On all sides you would hear-the one word "Expert," and the crowd remained to~- expect. The northern horse, who was to carry the dark blue and buff, was terribly hot; in fact, the public could see nothing else, and the price they were satisfied with was something in the vicinity of three t(' one. In the birdcage, preparatoi'y to the str.rt, all eyes were centred on the bay horse from Wellington. He was the one. Didn't'he have Arty Oliver up, too. Everything was all right. So they walked round and round, and a chestnut gelding with a _ very small, pale boy up, looked lonesome. He may have felt lonesome just then. A bell rang and a gate opened, and then the entrants filed out for the preliminary. That over, the horses slowly wended their way to the seven furlong post. A tedious wait, during which the hope of everyone could be seen circling an imaginary ring at the post, and they 3ined up. "Where's Expect?" was the general cry. He was there wedged in the middle. Very shortly the barrier shot up to a straggling start. The ciowd immediately saw rod and yellow. Expect's in front, but he wasn't; he was a long way back. One Sauci, with jleval and Silver Shield, were the leaders for the lirst furlong. And they ] < gg' J d away at a hot pare. Neariug the entrance to the straight the lonesome chestnut aforementioned butted in and hung on the quarters of Jteval and Sauci. Chudic's small boy rider then decided that it was time he had a look in. He proceeded to put his resolution into concrete form,- and the chestnut moved along gamely. At the distance the crowd commenced to holler for Expect, who was lying well back on the outside. On came the'field, the chestnut still holding his ,own. The rattle of four times 1G hooves on the hard course could not be heard above the roar of the'people's pick for the winner. On, on, they come, .Chudic still in front. "Expect, Expect," is the cry. "Expect, Expect," a hundred times in a few seconds. Sure enough the favourite has at last got out, and is going like fury. The field appears to

stand still as the blue and buffi colours sweep by. It was still a toss up. Fifty yards to go', and two of the best fighting it out/' the post and all is over. Chudic has won by a neck. There is little applause; tiie crowd was on the blue and buff. They couldn't cheer really. Had there been another; 20 yards—well, the people would have cheered the blue and buff, but the card said the race was seven furlongs. Anyway, Chudic's crow T d were well satisfied. And so "finished the Great Easter for 1914. I mentioned "moukey" I think —and blessed is. he that Expecteth nothing. • HIKI.