SPORT OF KINGS.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10392, 9 May 1927, Page 8 (Supplement)

SPORT OF KINGS.

RACING IN THE EARLY DAYS

FORMATION OF TURF CLUB. A few years later came the Poverty Bay Turf Club, which secured the course at Makaraka through the representations of the Cook County Council, and has since continued racing there, holding their annual meeting in February until years , later, when the date was changed to October, and subsequently two nmetings a year were held.

WINNERS OF 1876 MEETING. A two days’ fixture was held by the Poverty -Bay T urf Club on 17th' and 18th February, 1876. The Turanga Stakes was run over two miles and was won by Mr. R, Farmer’s Otoi (by Bicmcdcs) who, the previous season, won the first Auckland-Derby tor Mr. Watt. Whitefoot, a useful sort cf gelding owned by Mr. Donald Fraser, won the Flying Stakes, Hurdles Ra ce, and Forced Handicap. In 18-81 tiie Turanga Stakes went to Air. 0. C. Murray’s Merlin, with Angler next. Foul Play (an Auckland Cup winner, laid a walk ovSr for the Ladies’ Purse, three miles, on the opening day. Merlin easily anfiexed the Tradesmen’s Handicap, one mi:o and a-half on the opening day when lie beat Mavis (who also carried Air. Murray-s colors), also Angler and Foul Play. Mr. R. AVhWfer took the Hurdles,' two miles, with Alatau who. later in the day, ran second to Mai is in the Publicans’ Purse. Director was in great form at that I meeting, winning the Maiden Plate and County Purse on the. opeirin " I clay. ° 1

GISBORNE PARK CLUB GjMES

INTO EXISTENCE

-The establishment of the Gisborne Park Club in November, 1889, marked the suspension of the activities of the \\ aerenga-a-liika Club which, for many years, had catered admirably ior the sport. Among the earliest associations with the turf in Poverty Bay were Major C. D. Pitt, P. Dutaur, Walter Black, Peter Breingan, Tom Goldsmith, Ted Smith, v\ yllie, Allan McDonald (later member for the district in Parliament), Duncan Hepburn, Major Westrupp, John Maynard, Geo. i-. Sunderland, John Clark, if. Thelwull, J'. W Sunderland, Stapylton Caulton, Walsh (.of Patutahi), and M. G. Nasmith.

EARLY BLOODSTOCK lAIPORTATrONS;

The bloodstock imported into Poverty Bay by racehorse owners of the early days has left its mark r n the pedigrees of many of New Zealand s best turf performers, notably .Dainty Arial and Pacific, who were among the best thoroughbreds in England, the former being one of Iticldlesworth’s progeny, who were brought to Poverty Bay by Captain Bead, while Mr. Caulton imported Orlando, Tregeagle and Ghillie Calluni from Australia. Mr. Wyilie and Hon. Allan McDonald, who were in partnership in the racing game in those days', imported the well-known sire Foul Play, which subsequently gained for them a number of wins, whilst they also scored notable successes with Musket’s progeny- and Aconite. Tom Horsfall imported from Australia King Quail, Bandwick and others, while Australian importations by Walter Black were Corsair, Queen of Hearts, Songster, Bothwell and Derringer, all horses of high breeding, physique and stamina, for those were the clays of long-distance races. Mr. John Clark bred and raced very successfully To Arai, who won the C.J.O. Grand National, also Hobgarden, who was an outstanding per.ormer on the turf. Tam O’Sbanter was one of the best importations that ever came to this district, but an accident brought Ins career to an untimely end before he had time to strike his true form. Tho Auckland Cup. was won by more than one Gisborne owner in the early days, Mr. Allan McDonald annexing it in ’7B with Arial, and Tom Horsfall in : 81 with King Quail. Memorable will ever be the . famous - Continuance;—Paisano double at Christchurch which enriched so many local punters considerablv. ' £■

The difficulties of transport of horses were, as now, the main drawback to owners from outside centres bringing horses here. There is one incident which serves to emphasise that fact, when Perfume came to compete at a local. meeting in ’77, and. was dumped overboard from the steamer and allowed to swim ashore, was raced the same day, and won. Mr. S. C. Caulton imported Painty Arial from Auckland and Ghillie Callum and The-Barb, and Tregeagle and Wild Pay veil from Melbourne. He also bred from Tregeagle and Wild Payrell the high-class hurdler Payrell, who was prominent, oil the.X.Z. turf of a few decades ago'. 4 ’- AN EXCITING RACE. One of the most exciting incidents of the early days occurred at the Waerenga-a-nikn Boxing Pay races of 1880. 'Lizard was the only horse of three nominations that came to the port, the other two, Sussex and Skylark, having been scratched. Lizard’s weight wa.s 0 stone, but j Redman, the rider, scaled 9st 81b. Lizard took all his hurdles,. says the “Standard,” which were pretty stiff, successfully, until the last, when he tripped, throwing, his rider, who was too stunned to remount. On seeing this, young Polcman, .possibly with more haste than discretion, donned the colors .and rode Lizard into the weighing-in yard, but he was disallowed, he scaling 9.4. of 4!b short of Redman’s weight. Mir. W. Mill, riding a£ Redman’s weight, mounted Lizard hut was refused to he. weighed in on the ground that Vrider 'cannot sc-afe in twice. ■ The “X.Z. Rules of Racing” pa.yi “If a rider falls . and the: horse is ridden i - from -the place where ho fell, by .a person' ot . sufficient weight, he may take his pffioe.’T , Commenting, ou.-this, the - “f'i '> ild lrd’’ sn-d: ••(!' all the - horses . ere entered - and nil hut pneps sere it" his money. This s:rat<3iffi£?J>Ui>iness ’ is made too : linieli of and horses; ought to he run. after they are once'' ■: entered ' . . -unless debarred.-by,' i

INCIDENTS OF THE SEVENTIES-

Tlie Sport of Kings played a prominent part in the social liije of the pioneers of Poverty Bay; indeed, herse racing in days agone was the I principal, u not tile only, diversion lfom .the humdrum existence of incessant toil. Raco day was the signal lor tiie. renewal of acquaintances and associations in the world of sport. A day of days lor the pioneers, whose inveterate, love for blood stock has made its mark to-day on the racing, stables of New Zealand and Australia. In the early, days of racing in the Bay owners pitted their stock against those of their neighbors and, like many punters to-dav, would back the “shirt off their back“ on the capabilities of their horses and many and . varied are the reminiscences of the good old days.. The establishment of j the Waerenga-a-hika Club, in the ear- j lv 70’s bore testimony to the interest j of the settlers in horse racing and for ! years the annual meeting on Boxing ! Day on the old course there was the j scene of an animated crowd of settlers from all parts of the district. ,f The old Waerenga-a-hika Club held . the meetings on the property opposite the present note! and the Poverty Bay Turf Club’s meeting was held at the rear of the hostelry.

some cause more substantial and less open to suspicion than the mere whini of the owner.”

When Foul Play was scratched for the Auckland Cup,-the “Observer” had some very strong observations concerning the unfairness of scratching the horse, pointing out that many people had been “done in’’ ior their money through the scratching taking place at the last minute. °

At the Waiapu races in Ibßl the Sergeant of Police, says the “Standard,” rather surprised, a noted character who had been in the habit of what he evils “plugging” people tor the last ten years cm tiie Coast with impunity. He was about to start to “plug” when tiie Sergeant “downed” him, and handcuffed him. A LIVELY DAY. A race meeting in the early days was always an exciting time, visitors coming f .orn all parts. The firsf meeting of the Poverty Bay Turf Club, at least as far as Mr. Robert The!wall can recall, was on a course laid out behind the Bridge Hotel, Matawhero. The following year, he believes, it took place at The Willows, Mataw hero, and the two iollowing veins Wae-renga.-a-hika was the. location. A few vears Inter the course was changed to Makaraka, where it has remained iver since. The Alatawbero meeting, how’ever, is the one that remains most vividly n Air. Thelwall’s memory, for it was ndeed tv lively day. Some of the clisiancled Forest Rangers were present ind, needless to say, these old solliers were out to enjoy themselves to .ho full . i

After some exciting, finishes, ti-ou-ble'arose over a race.' A walk. l : w> resident, Avho v.as a good rider, had a horse called The Herring because it was so thin. It was not entered in the race, hut, lor pure devilment, the rider joined in the race at the back of the course as the horses wore passing round the second time. Being fresh, The lie:ring ran in an easy winner, but, on reaching Hr* post, dropped dead. This incident caused arguments that lasted lor many a long day afterwards.' “BATTLE” BETWEEN PAKEHAS AND MAORIS. ' Then came the greatest incident of the .day, the memorable fight between the Maoris and the pakehas. If all arose through a row between a European and a Maori, which ended in a scrimmage. Two or three others joined in and then the fight became general. Captain Wcstiup-p, who Pad been in command o? the 'Poverty Bay Mounted Rifles when they disbanded, called out to his men to “fall in.’’ They. responded readily and general fighting took place, stirrup leathers and irons being freely used. Many others got palings, while still more secured stout sticks, pieces of timber or hunting crops. On the command of Captain Westrupp the Europeans made a charge at hundreds of ' Natives. Many of the pakehas were moiintcdf but the majority of Maoris were on root.. ' The Natives stood upto it lor a time determinedly hut eventually turned and ran with the Europeans in full pursuit. Thev were chased down the course and for half a mile down the river. Many jumped into the water and swam across to the Patutahi side, landing at the spot

which is now the junction of the Wai-roa-Patutahi roach Then the pantlias gathered on the opposite bank and had a- war dance in honor of the occasion returning later to the course. It is pleasing to record, that no serious damage resulted on either side.