FROM STUD AND STABLE National Had Origins In South Canterbury

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29890, 2 August 1962, Page 4

FROM STUD AND STABLE National Had Origins In South Canterbury

(Specially written for ••The Press” by “OLD TIMER”] Probably only a few of the patrons at the 1962 Grand National meeting will have any knowledge of the origin of the big “crosscountry” race, for such it was at the time of its inception. Back in 1873, a band of South Canterbury sportsmen organised a race which they styled the interprovincial steeplechase.

A year later they enrolled a few kindred spirits from south of the Waitaki and from north of the Rangitnta and called their principal event the Grand Interprovincial Steeplechase. The winner of the earlier race was J. Schluter's Honest John Runner-up was Medora. It was in 1875 that the idea was conceived of running a Grand National, and the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase Chib was formed in Timaru. The membership list of 55 bristles with the names of wellknown pioneer sportsmen. The club drew up a comprehensive set of rules to govern jumping races—there were no Rules of Racing until many years later. A “winner” was defined as a horse which had won a steeplechase of the valve of £2O or over; a ‘‘maiden’’ was one which bad not won a race of £2O. Hurdle races, flat races and matches were not taken into account. The highest weight in all races was to be 12-7. and the fewest 10-0. In the event of the top acceptor having less than 12-7 it was to be raised to that level and all the other weights were to be increased accordingly. The distances of steeplechases were fixed as follows:—For four-year-olds and under, two miles and a half; for flve-years. three miles; for six and over, four miles. Assumed names were permitted on payment of a fee of £5 a year. A forfeit hst was arranged for and stringent regulations were framed to govern wrong description of horses and other fraudulent practices and foul riding Attempted bribery of officials was subject to drastic punishment A starter who sent a field away from the wrong side of the post could be fined up to £5O. Walk Over In case of a walk-over, it was only necessary for a

horse to be weighed out and ridden to the starting post. Unless it was specified that second money was a donation from the race fund (third prizes had not been provided for) the horse walking over was to receive both first and second money Dead-hea<ts for first had to be run off after the Last race but in case of a dead-heat tor second the owners divided the prize. It was provided that decisions of stewards were final and not subject to any appeal whatever in a court of Law Another rule laid down th art the Grand National meeting was to be run annually, but not in the same place or within 10 miles in successive veers This explains why the National was a moveable feast for several seasons. The programme for the first meeting comprised four steeplechases, the main event being the New Zealand Grand National, of 100 sovs, with a nomination fee of 3 sovs and a sweepstake of 5 sovs. No person was permitted to enter a horse unless he was a subscriber of at least £2 2s to the funds. Three of the events w’ere to be run at weight-for-age, the Grand Nation®! being the only handicap. The first Grand National meeting, like its two predecessors. was run at Willowbridge, on the Studholme Te Waimate estate. The fences comprised stout post-and-rails and reinforced gorse hedges, but the rasper was a water jump, with ditches six feet wide on either side of a sod wall which was capped by a post-and-rail. Three Starters Unfortunately, there were only three acceptors for the National, and one of these, Ivanhoe, had been cast in his box overnight and took practically no part in the contest. The issue was confined to Medora, running in the name of her rider, Bob Reay, and Tommy Dodd, piloted by his owner, Mr Pat Campbell.

Both made a mistake, but ultimately Medora finished first. It took many years to get this race recognised in the Turf Register, and since it has been. Dan O'Brien is credited with the winning ride. That is incorrect, and there is no record of Carbine’s future owner being present at the meeting The English horseman, Fred Hedge, steered three winners during the day—Maiden Plate on Plum, Waimate Steeplechase on Lunatic, and the Consolation on Tommy Dodd Move To Riccarton The club took its meeting to Riccarton in 1876. The winner. Royalty, was ridden by the Timaru amateur, E H. Martelli, an achievement not equalled until G. G Beatson succeeded on Padishah in 1939. Teh races were held in pouring rain, and the only other horse to compete besides the winner was Mousetrap, which won over the course two years later The bad weather inflicted heavy loss on the promoters and at a meeting held In Timaru. it was decided not to run the race again until the deficit was liquidated. Subscriptions came in freely, and the third National came off on the due date at Cain's paddock, Timaru. The natural country was severe, gorse fences, water jumps and two gullies having to be negotiated. The big race went to G. P. Williams's Fakir (S. Osborne). Incidentally, F. Hedge won two supporting events on Lonehand A second visit was made to Riccarton in 1878, when Larry Markey’s Mousetrap (P. McKoy) was first home. In 1879 the National was run near Oamaru, this being the only occasion on which it was taken outside Canterbury. The Agent (W. Hankins) scored the first of his three victories. The second was gained at Riccarton a year later with H. Lunn in the saddle. Memorable Race The first Washdyke National has become historic. The course included four road doubles and a stone wall The only starter to get round without mishap was Clarence (F. Hedge). Sailor Boy followed him home, but his rider had missed a fence. Knowing this. Hedge weighed in with Clarence, picked up a Lead

bag, went back and caught The Agent, whose rider had been knocked out by a fall and rode that horse home for second money. This feat is believed to be unique in New Zealand. A story gained some currency that this race took place at Oamaru, but that is completely incorrect. Fred Hedge was an Englishman who came out to work with the Christchurch hounds, but before long drifted to Timaru. A fearless horseman, he was drowned in Timaru harbour Katerfelto won at Riccarton in 1882. and Koscisusko at Washdyke in 1883. The Agent notched his third victory at Riccarton in 1884, and the Timaru hurdler Moody in 1885. Since then the meeting has been domiciled at Riccarton, and was taken over by the Canterbury Jockey Club. Racing finance in early days was based mainly on subscriptions, yet in 1886 the added money for the National was £4OO (Wellington Steeplechase £150) and some years after the C.J.C. took it over the stake was £5OO. Crack ’chasers like The Agent. Clarence, Canard and Faugh-a-ballagh often competed at country courses for £6O or £7O prizes. Early day National jockeys rode with long leathers, and would look queer today. But the forward seat would have been risky over the natural country, where even gorse fences were capped with a stout totara rail. There were no brush fences as we know them today.

At one time, starters in jumping races were required to go over a trial hurdle—for the benefit of backers. This was responsible for a story that Campbell Hobbs did not ride Moody at Riecarton. The tale ran that the horse fell over the qualifying jump, breaking his rider’s leg, and that a substitute was put up. Campbell Hobbs had such an experience, but it was in a hurdle race at Washdyke. He piloted Moody, of which he was part owner, to victory in the National.