THE TURF

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 13 June 1925, Page 7

THE TURF

FRANKLYN RACES (TTuitod Press Association.) AUCKLAND. This Day. The Franktyn Racing Club’s meeting is being held at Avondale in line weather, with a large attendance. The course is heavy. Results:Ramarama. Hack Steeples: Manialiera 1; Ginger Carl 2: Vociferate 3. Scratched: King Abbey. Won by seven lengths. Time 5.16. Several horses fell, anil only three finished. S ENS A TION AI. STKERL EC 11ASERS ■■. Phaeton” writes the following interesting story concerning the Great Northern Steplechase:— ‘‘Almost every cross-country event of importance the history of which extends over a lengthy period can lay claim to some incidents of the highlylomantie order, and Lie Great Nor!hern Steeplechase, which has been run annually at Ellcmie i; 11 the winter season since 1565. can lurnish its full share in that respect The victory for which Despised was responsible, in the race .»£, 1693 holds a place with the greatest allround surprises associated with racing in the Dominion. After competing unsiueessfully in the Takapuna, Steepleihase, run a. couple of weeks prior to the .Great Northern coming up for decision at Ellershe. Despised was submit ted to auction at .Messrs Rueklaiid and Sons’ Hnyniavket yards. The bidding failed to reach the reserve (lOOgns) placed on the hay gelding, and tie was passed in, to be sold privately oil the

same afternoon to the late Mr T. \\yley. llie question of accepting for Despised in the big race then came up for decision and. had it not been for the filet that the late .Mr Willie Caverhill, who had the one-eved candidate running for him in a double, offering to pay the acceptance fee, the chances are that the horse would have been allow to drop out of the Great. Northern. Despised failed in the Maiden Steeplechase. mil on the first day of the A.R.C. meeting, and bis Great, Northern prospects fell to the zero point. When speculation on the race closed, the son of Cap-a-pie ranked as the greatest outsider of the field. Despised, however, beat the field under highly-sgnsational '. ircnimtanee.s. In the first round Despised came down at the stonewall at the head ot the straight, but his' rider (Loss Heaton) quickly remounted his one-eyed steed, and he was in the lead wlimi the ll'ird round came to he iindertakn. and he led up to the pust-nnd-rnil fence at, the top of the hill, where lie fell. When Despised fell the, second time he passed quite from view. and when he loomed up at the last hurdle, romping in an. easy winner, those presi lit could scarcely believe their eyes. A period extending to over three decades has sped its flight since Despised won the Great Northern, but, as each winter conns round, it still forms the subject Ii r inueh interesting conversation, ami it tan always be depended upon to occupy a prominent place in the history ol' Kllerslie's leading cross country eVei.t.