A TURF HERO.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 147, 22 June 1889, Page 2 (Supplement)

A TURF HERO.

No more will the "black and white hoops "be sported on Nelson. All doubts aboub his racing career being ab an end are set ab rest, for in a conversation I had the other day with Major George he informed me that the gallant hero of so many equine battles had finally bid adieu to the racecourse for stud duties. What happy recollections Nelson's name brings up to racecourse habitues, and the very opposite to many New Zealand bookmakers,"whovveresmitten hip and thigh more than once by his victorious deeds. If ever the public idolised a horse it is the son of King Cole, and the receptions he has met with ab bhe hands of Aucklanders from time to time have never been equalled on the Ellerslie course. The fact was never more demonsbrabed than on the occasion of his winning the Flying Stakes ab the recent A.R.C. Autumn Meeting, which was his last appearance with the colours up. Tho old horse was cheered to the echo as he returned to scale, In these degenerate days of tho turf ib is somebhing bo record thab after eight years' racing throughout this colony and Australia, not once has there been a breath of suspicion thab bhe horse was run a "bye." This, too, under the most tempting circumstances, and it speaks volumes for the integrity of his owner, who, if unscrupulous,could have benefited largely time after time. Major George has always run Nelson for the public, and in the interests of the public, and bhey have never been slow to recognise it when the opportunity offered. Nelson was bred by the Messrs Finlay, of Glenormiston, Victoria, and was purchased when a foal with his dam (My Idea) by Mb present owner. Although several stakes fell to his lot during his early career, including the Auckland Derby, it was not until five .years old that he displayed the form which has since entitled him to be placed in the ranks of the very besb horses bhab have brod bhe colonial turf. Which is the besb performance he has recorded iB open to debate, bub some of his best "form" was shown ab the V.R.C. Autumn Meeting of 1887, while his most sensational defeat was ab the hands of Artillery in the Canterbury Cup. Nelson has demonstrated that he is one of the most stout-hearted animals thab ever looked bhrough a bridle, while his pace was undeniable, added to which he was capable of carrying big weights. In stakes, Nelson has won for Major George, at a rough calculation, over £10,000, and the following table will show the riositions Nelson has occupied in the sixty-six races for which he has started :—

.t 2 years .t 3 years .t 4 years ,t 5 years .t 6 years .t 7 years .t 8 years J First, i 0 4 3 8 5 2 1 Second 2 2 1 2 6 4 1 a. i rhird 1 0 3 0 0 0 a. i Unplaced 0 3 5 4 1 3 3 23 IS 6 19