GISBORNE CHAMPION

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 10473, 31 December 1927, Page 4 (Supplement)

GISBORNE CHAMPION

' i FROM STATION HACK TO i NATIONAL WINNER. ; FAUGH-A-BALLAGH’S METEORIC | CAREER. i Racing has always been a sport keenly followed in Poverty Bay, but, , back in the early Stl’s, local enthnsi- ‘ asts, without lecoguising its mem, had a horse among them and one used merely as a station hack which finally turned out to win the N.Z. Grand National Steeplechase at Christchurch in 1887. This was a horse called Faugh-a-Ballagh. Mr. Robert Price, of Alangapapa, v, iio resided at Patutahi in the early clays, has strong recollections of this fine horse, for it was his favorite riding hack for several years.

EARLY STATION WORK

Speaking recently of Faugh-a-Bai-lagh, Mr. Price said that, while it was in his possession, he used it continually for all classes of _ station work and for long distance trips. Alter" some time spent in Poverty Bay, Air. Price, went to Napier, riding \Faugh-a-Ballagh all the way. From Napier he made another long trip to Cambridge)' the National winner carrving him as usual. Arriving at Cambridge, he was tempted by offers to buy, particularly from a Mrs. Pack- | land, who then lived at Cambridge but later came to Gisborne. Air. Price said he would part with the horse for £7O. but Airs. Buckland would offer only £-10, so no business was trims- ! acted and Mr. Price rode Fne Ballagh back from Cambridge to Napier again. 1

COAIPETING AT SPOUTS .MEETINGS,

Returning to Gisborne, lie eatorc.i his horse in various events at sports meetings here, usually with success. Later it competed with Rather distinction at snorts meetings in Hawke’s Bay. 'By this time, A was quite evident that Faugh-a-B.i:lagh was a horse of exceptional ability ana it attracted the attention of a Air.. Dennett, a- Hastings trainer.

PROPER TRAINING STARTS

This gentleman purchased Faugh-a-Ballagh and put it into proper earning. After a time it scored a win at a Hastings race meeting and later a double win at Wellington, by winch its connections wen large sums. Then followed the Grand National meeting of 1887 at Christchurch when reugl* a-Ballagli s e; red ids e-ownne sue tv s. By this tima lie ltid passed inti: ii.a hands of Air. R. Rutherford.

AVON IN RECORD TIAIE

In his big .success. the horse crr-3-iecl t!ic* heav.v impost, of list l.'Jlhs and won in tile record time of Vimin 7see. It should be remembered that, up to this time and ur.t 1 1891, the event was decided over a four-mile course instead of the present three and n-half. Eiuigh-a-Ballagh’s time was never beaten in the event ever tlie longer distance.

DIFS AT AGE OF 28,

When it had finished its racing career. the horse was used in the hunting- field for live years and was finally pensioned off at the age of 2i. Seven years later, at the mature age gl 28.* FausU-;vI/P,lh'£h passed a>y?y after a widely-varied ' Iff" " from tlie rough work of a station hack to thundering past the ]>ost as tho winner of the 2s.Z. Grand National.

HORSE WAS WELL-NAMED

“She was well-named,” remarked Mr. Price, “for fnugh-a-ballagh m urn tongue of Erin means 'Clear me road.’

ARTIFICIAL WATER JUMPS BECOAIE REAL.

Air. George Price, brother of Air. Robert Price, also has some interesting racing reminiscences. He was one of the prime movers in initiating the first race-meeting at ICaikoura (Ot:v ne, Hawke’s Bay) about fifty years ago. On tho day before ths initial meeting. working’ bees were busy preparing the course for the morrow. Tlie i water-jumps were the greatest difficulty, as there war. no water adjacent

to the course. However, trenches wore dug out alongside the jur. ,-5 ana water wa.s laboriously brought from a considerable distance away to fill these up. During the night a heavy rain-storm blow over and it teemed. The caro'ully-filled ditches overflowed and on the day of tho meeting the course was practically flooded! Naturally, a.s Mr. Price naively remarked, “all those who had slogged barn the previous day were quite annoyed!” At this meeting, a horse belonging to Air. Thomas Price wen tho pr.ncipal event, the stccpVchi'se. Warm ligate wag this equine speedster’s name. “AM our fainilv were very keen on racing,” concluded Air. Price, “and no llfoe meeting in New Zealand’s earlv da vs was cmenVto unless there was a Prir' at it.”