FRANK HEWITT V. HORSE AND RIDER.—100 YARDS MATCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 4045, 29 October 1874, Page 5

FRANK HEWITT V. HORSE AND RIDER. —100 YARDS MATCH.

It lias long been ;i moot question, says the Australasian, whether a man could beat a horse for a short distance, and the question was discussed on board the ship Renown, recently arrived here from England, with the result that a wager of £o0 a side was made between two of the passengers, in which one undertook to find a man, and the other a horse with rider, to run 100 yards. The money was staked in the hands of Captain Wildisli, who consented to act as starter, and his chief ofiicer as judge. As a matter of course, the backer of the biped, on his arrival, lost no time in ascertaining who was the fastest ped. in the colony, and equally as a matter of course Frank Hewitt was pointed out to him, and being "interviewed" satisfactorily, the match was at once "clinched." In the meantime the backer of the quadruped was equally industrious in seeking out a nag combining the qualities of speed in galloping and quickness in getting away. In this pursuit he was eminently successful, for iu the stables of Mr - . Tyrrel, of St. Kihla, he found the gem he desired—a rather tall Arab-bred pony, known at Telegraph, the winner of many races in the suburbs. The horse was in training at the time, and repeated trials proved that in 100 yards he could break nine seconds. As the time approached, 3 to 1 was offered on the horse, which so staggered the backers of the man that but very little betting took place. And now a word or two about the relative speed of man v. horse. According to J. 11. Walsh ("Stonehenge"), the time of Sir Tatton Sykes, Blink Bunny, and other horses was at the rate of 13As. per furlong (220 yards), while we know that our fastest peds. have not achieved quite 100 yards ill 10s. ; it follows, therefore, that to back a man to run 100 yards against a fleet horse, with any chance of success, would seem preposterous. Of previous performances of similar feats, we remember that at Ararat, Collins —a celebrity in those days—started against a horse, and went the distance; but the horse never stirred, the report of the pistol having frightened hiin. Again, in Colliiigwood Flat, Mr. Wliitcoak matched himself to beat a horse in a race of 100 yards, oO yards out and return, and though a fast runner, only won by the skin of his teeth. The solution of the problem was attempted last Saturday in the Friendly Societies' grounds, which, notwithstanding the attractions of the adjoining cricket grounds, were well attended. Soon after the appointed time, sides and ends being chosen, Telegraph (with his owner up) and Ffewitt appeared on the scratch. "We may mention that Hewitt having stated to the pistol-iirer that he would hold up his arm when he was ready, did so and started, but as there was no report he had to return. A second attempt at a start resulted in the horse getting away at a pace which made Hewitt's friends look blue. Still there was no report, and the horse had to return to the scratch. The excitement was now great, the spectators being on the tenter hooks of expectation, both biped and quadruped ready to spring, and the starter nervously anxious to give the signal. The.horsc, fidgetty, slightly swerves, and Hewitt, seeing his opportunity, intimates, by holding up his hand, that he is ready, starts. The pistol is sluggish, and before the report is heard the " ped. "is oil', and at such a pace that he is quite seven yards ahead before the horse is in motion. The race was then in earnest, and at almost railway speed. Hewitt seemed to fly, the horse, nevertheless, decreasing the gap at every stride. At SO yards the horse was gaining so fast that it seemed inevitable that the man must be beaten. Frank, nevertheless, persevered, and with a splendid spurt breasted the line first ; five yards more and the horse passed him. We need scarcely say how jubilant were the backers of the man at the unexpected victory—unexpected alike to both parties—neither is it necessary to dwell upon the congratulations showered on Hewitt on succeeding in draggiug the stake out of the fire. It will suffice to say that

the backers o£ the horse are not yet satisfied that the result of this race is a satisfactory solution of the problem "the relative speed of man versus horse."