SIR GEORGE CHETWYND'S BOOK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 136, 10 June 1891, Page 3

SIR GEORGE CHETWYND'S BOOK.

TURF REMINISCENCES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) The inner history of several burf scandals branspires in the course of Sir George Chetwynd's entertaining volumes of racing reminiscences. Your readers may remember, for example, the talk there was after the Cambridgeshire of 1884, concerning a large present of £1,000 alleged bo have been given Wood by the owner of the winner, Mr Jno. Hammond. Wood was nob on the latter's Florence in the race, but on her principal rival, Sandiway, and as this mare ran very badly, nasty things were afterwards said. No one could understand ab fche time why Sir George persuaded the Duke of Westminster,or rather his manager,MrGrosvenor, fco let Wood ride. We now learn Sir Geo. Chetwynd had a double evenb bet of 2,000 to 10, St. Gatien for fcha Cesare witch, and Sandiway for the Cambridgeshire, and having won half the battle was naburally anxious bo secure bhe whole. He pub Wood on £300 to nothing, and Mr Grosvenor added £200 more, so thab a win would havo meant £500 to fche jockey. Mr Hammond, if I remember aright, declared his £1,000 gift v/as Wood's share of certain bets won over the Cesarewitch.

Apropos of the accusation thafc Archer pulled Galliard in the Derby of 1883 in order that his brother's horse, Highland Chief, mighb win, Sir George says he doesn't believe ib. He had more money on Galliard than he had ever before betted on a horse, and he is quite certain bhab owing to hia heavy shoulders, fche colfc could not act downhill, and lost more ground than he could ever make up. Wood's daring race on Sb. Blaise in bhis Derby, when he sbole a couple of lengths ab Tatbenham Corner ab bhe imminent risk of his life, is warmly commented on by Sir George, who nevertheless eeems to share the impression of bhe jockeys concerned in bhe finish and of mosb of the onlookers (bar tbe judge), viz., thab Highland Chief got up in the lasb few sbrides, and won by half a len«th. Sir George Chobwynd was well-in with fche Balfcazzi confederacy in 1875-6, and won a pot of money over bho vicbories of Kisber, a better horse, he considers, than even Ormonde. I notice, by-the-by, the horse thab wins a man most money ia always " the best horse ever known." To this day, lots of burfibes aver the defeats of Bendigo by Minting and Ormonde were bhe consequence of " poor old Bendy" being "a bib off," and that fib and well the Irishman would have beaben either crack.

The Boulogne bookmakers {i.e., bhe English list men sbabioned at Boulogne) must make handsome incomes out of bhe craze for double-event betting. In an experience of 20 years, Sir George Chetwynd can, despite an extensive acquaintance, only recall some half-dozen instances of doubles coming off. The mosb remarkable he mentions was the well-known one of Counb Jaraczowski, who took £10,000 to £100 about Robert the Devil and Lucetta for Cosarewitch and Cambridgeshire, and stood the bet out.

The Cambridgeshire of 1871 appears to have been a desperately exciting race. Allbrook (backed for tons of money) got such a good start that he was leading many lengths at the red post when it appeared impossible for Sterling, who was lying second, to catch him, and out of tho question for Sabinus, who was at the head of the remaindor on the sheep track near the rails, with Fordham sitting crouched like a monkey on the horse's neck. "My horse wins, Allbrook wins !" excitedly screamed Lord Alington, galloping madly along the rails alongside the leader, his covert coat open and flying in the air. " I stand to win £20,000 on that horse, and I wouldn't take £19,999 for it."

Hardly were tho words out of his owner's mouth than Allbrook compounded, and gradually fell back to Sterling, on whom Chaloner was hard at work. The cry of *' Sterling wins " had scarcely been raised, however, before a perfect yell went up from the ring as Fordham, who had scarcely been noticed (so close under the rails was he riding) brought up Sabinus with a rush. The trio passed tho post locked together, but as most onlookers guessed, Fordham had landed Sabinus ahead, Sterling and Allbrook running a dead heat for second place. Sir George Chetwynd, fortunately, met Fordham on his way to the starting post for this race, and " the Demon " told him Sabinus was so well ho thought he should just win. Sir George took the tip, and galloping back to the ring managed to book £4,000 to £120 before the field got off.