BILLY BOY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 147, 6 June 1936, Page 2

BILLY BOY

Some Bits About Him Archiestown, sire of Billy Boy, was a jumper of distinction in England before being brought to the Dominion by the late Mr. E. D. O'Rorke to improve the breed of hunters in the Waikato. Billy Boy, one of the best jumpers and stayers in the history ot New Zealand racing, was very, near to a short and inglorious life. When rising four years, ho was being hunted when ho cut his oil hind leg so badly that the only possible course seemed to be his destruction. However, his breeder and then owner, Mr. H. Rothery, held him iu esteem, and the best veterinary attention and home car© wrought a slow recovery. Ho was in the paddock tor three years before being again put into training. He was theu bought by Mr G. J. Quirke, who handed him to R. W. A. Lewis to train and the latter subsequently became his uwuer also. * * * On Wednesday. Billy Boy won the Great Northern Steepfechaseuuder only Ibst. 71bs. In 1932, he was the topweight, with Hist 13. Later that year he won the Wellington and Grand National Steeplechases, being No. 1 in both, and when he returned to Ellerslie in 1933, as the best jumper in the country, ho had to carry 12st 71bs. Under this burden he ran third. In th© following year, Billy Boy was in second position on the handicap with list Bibs., or lib. less than Callamart, who had won the previous year. Billy. Huy's triumph in this year's Great Northern Steeplechase has gained him three notable records. He has joined the select list of cross-country performers who have won the Gram! National, Wellington, and Great Northern Steeplechasees; he has establishcr fastest time for the race; and he ha s equalled the performance of Dick in 1926 of winning the. Great Northern at i-lcveu years ol ago, the pair being ♦he only horses id such an age ever to have won the race. e * » Only two horses have yet achieved » he honour of v inning the big steeplechase trch|© in the one year—t balition in 1921 and Beau Cavalier in 1927. Aurora Borealis just missed the teat iu 1930 by tailing very narrowly at. Tronthani. Two other horses, Haydn and Valpeen. have also taken the treble in different years, and Billy Boy makes only the fifth horse in the v hole history ot New Zealand to have iptured all three events. Coalition (t> Grand Nationals), Valpeen (two Gt id Nationals), and Billy Boy (two felling, ton Steeplechases) have e. b bad double successes in one of toe three events in the treble. s:- '* W. Rennie, rider of Billy ’’ey on Wednesday , said- his mount w. ahvays in a handy position once the . .■■ld had settled down. He jumped at. actively at every obstacle ail'd raced ’» kindly and did not pull nearly as 1 rd as some of th© other contestants Going round the back the last tim Rennie was confident of winning, as me veteran ’chaser had a good deal in reserve. ‘‘Half-a-mile from home T kicked Billy Boy up a little and ho responded in good style. Forest Glow drew up heside me and was just in front as ws landed over the last fence, but. Billy Boy came again in the tun. home, although 1 had to rid.- h;m right out to win,” W. Rennie has ridden the winter of the Great Northern Hurdles on three occasions but this his first success in the Gteat No’ thern Steeplechase.