NELSON CUP

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 4 May 1938, Page 9

NELSON CUP

(By "Sir Lancelot")

OLD DAYS RECALLED WHEN SPADE GUINEA WON JOCKEY CLUB HANDICAP

The principal event at Nelson was not always known as the Nelson Cup. In the old days, when the distance was two miles, it was called the Jockey Club Handicap. The first race for the Cup was in 1887. and was won by Spade Guinea, the best horse that won the old time race. She was owned and trained by R. J. Mason, who served his time with Mr Henry Redwood, and was the greatest trainer of all time in the Dominion. Before increasing weight kept him out of the saddle Mr Mason was associated with Mr Redwood’s colours and rode Lurline in his successes in the Dunedin Cup and Jockey Club Handicap in 1874. He was on his way to Auckland when he dropped in at Nelson in 1887 with a useful team. The grey Peter Osbeck won the Hurdle Race on the opening day, ridden by W. McConkey, now resident in Wellington. The old time Blenheim campaigner Orient, owned and ridden by A. J. Shearsby. was runner up and scored on the second day. This was the race in which Freebooter fell and Allan Herd sustained fatal injuries. Spade Guinea also won the Richmond Park Handicap, the principal event on the seconl day. carrying 9.11. A useful handicap performer in Rumour, carrying 7.3, was j her best opponent. It was 6st minimum j in those days. With Teddy Yuile, nam- | cd after a popular Wellington penciller, i the stable took the Railway Plate, a i mile weight-for-age race, on the opening day, and the Ladies’ Purse, a welter j w.f.a. race on the second day. In the i latter Peter Osbeck. ridden by his trainer, ran third. On their way north Peter Osbeck picked up a Maiden Plate at Taranaki, and Teddy Yuile, the Autumn Handicap. There and at Ellerslie the horses ran in the ownership of I Mr Alf Drake, a well known Christ-! church bookmaker. Peter Osbeck won the Hurdles at Ellerslie, Spade Guinea the Easter and Autumn Handicaps. Teddy Yuile was runner-up in the Tradesmen’s Plate and St. Leger the ; same day. and Rocket won the flying j Stakes, a w.f.a. race over six furlongs, j Later in the day he failed to concede weight to Cinderella, a smart sprinter, over the same distance, and was beaten ! by half a length. That season Spade i Guinea had also won the New Zealand | and Dunedin Cups. W. White, who was 1 known as Percy by his associates, rode the members of Mr Mason’s team. At Hawkes Bay which came the week before Nelson. Spade Guinea was ridden in the Burke Memorial by R. Deirit and was beaten by Pearl, ridden by White, won the Grandstand Handicap. Later in the day she was saddled up again in the Tradesmen’s Handicap, ridden by White, and was beaten by Salisbury, ridden by J. Huxtable. a light weight who scored on the mare in the New rr 'aland Cup. Early the following season Mr Drake look a team to Victoria including Spade Guinea. Pasha. Rocket. Teddy Yuile and Vinaigrette. Although Pasha won the Wagga Wagga Gold Cup they did not meet ith a great deal of success, and the trip must have been an unprofitable one. Spade Guinea ran in the Caulfield Cup that season and in the following one without getting in the money. She contested the Melbourne Cup of 1888, won u y Mentor but met with injuries which terminated her career.

SUCCESSIVE RACES WON AT NELSON Prominence was given last week to Superior Guard’s performance at Avondale in winning one race and deadheating in the next. Old timers at J Richmond will remember some good j performances ! the old days. Sweetie, j a three-year-old, won the Waimca Plate

Handicap, a mile and a quarter, and was also successful in the next race on the card, the District Handicap, a mile and a half. At the same meeting Jilt, a grey mare owned by Mr Harry Newman. ran third in the Hurdle Handicap, two miles and a half, and was successful in the next race, the District Hurdle Handicap, two miles and a half. The same day Her Ladyship, a three-year-old owned by Mr Henry Redwood, won the Richmond Park Handicap, one mile and three-quarters, and in the next | rac: won the Ladies’ Purse, one mile and a quarter, welter weight-for-age. ran second to Forester, one of the best sprinters of his time, who put up a five fu: longs record at Riccarton that stood for some time. The bove performances were put up at the meeting in 1888 —fifty years ago. THE JUBILEE MEETING IN 1892 The Nelson Jockey Club's Jubilee meeting was held in February. 1892. The officials were: Judge, John Sharp: starter, C. Bird; handicapper. Phil Rush; clerk of course, J. Canning; stewards, John Sharp. J. A. Harley, H. Newman, R. Mcßae, F. Trask. Dr. Pearless. and E. Finney. Mr J. M. Rogers was secretary. The principal performer was Mr Henry Redwood’s Awarua Rose, winner of the Maiden Race, Nelson Cup and Richmond Park Handicap. The brothers Tom and Bob Ross were among the winning jockeys at the meeting also Walter Clifford, who was regarded by old timers as having no equal. Streamlet won a race for Major W. N. Franklyn, who was President at the carnival meeting held in January 1 906. Associated with him were Mr E. E. Trask, vice-president, Messrs J. E. Bartlett, Wm. Coleman, J. A. Harley, R. Hunter, J. Hunt, J. Hagen, F. T. Lipscombe, G. Silcock, A. Wallace, and J. Wadsworth, committee; and H. Baigent, J. A. Harley, A. T. Jones, T. J. Lynch, A. F. Trask. J. Wadsworth, and T. Gorman, as stewards. J. E. Bartlett was judge, W. Coleman starter, A. F. Trask starter for trots, J. E. Henrys handicapper, R. Hunter time-keeper. J. A. Harley hon. treasurer, C. R, Harley clerk of scales, F. Krahagen clerk of course, W. Coleman handicapper for trots, and John Glen secretary. White Ribbon was the most successful performer, winning the Grandstand Handij cap the first day and the Richmond Park and Waimea Handicaps on the second day. Defoe won the Hurdle I Race each day under big weights. Fred i Barry, now of Palmerston North, who j was on Awarua Rose in his principal successes at the Jubilee meeting four-

teen years previously, rode a winner each day. HORSES ENGAGED AT NELSON With only a small team few trainers have a better record than M. Williams, whose headquarters are at Otaki. Export, who won at Wairarapa at ; New Year time, may 1 prove to be a better horse than his performances indicate. Earl Colossus, was second each day at Wairarapa at Easter and won on his only appeaance at Woodville. Another member of the team. Mca Mea, at Wairarapa and was first and second at Woodville. The horses are ridden by the trainer’s son, who is a capable rider. and can still claim 31bs allowance. Bonny Agnes, who is lightly weighted in her engagements at Richmond, was among the winners on the opening day at Reefton. She is half sister to Sweet Agnes, who defeated Might i-n the Redwood Memorial two years ago. Mr Bill Sisson, now resident of Wellington, intends to be at Richmond to renew acquaintance with Mr Johnny Reilly and other friends from Collingwood. Owners from the Bays used to assist at the Nelson meetings in the old days. At the Jubilee meeting Reilly Bros, were represented by Cloud, who contested the Hurdle Races, and Ormond. It was rather unfortunate that J. McCauley, after riding a double winner on Clubman on the concluding day at Reefton. should be suspended for a month. That will prevent him riding at the Nelson meeting, where he would been associated with his father’s team when the weights suited. Clubman finished up with three wins on the West Coast circuit, which equalled the record of Monipere and Amount. Clubman, by Nightmarch-Pcho, is one of M. Ccr.za’s Riccarton team.