SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9014, 29 March 1888, Page 5

SPORTING.

DEATH OF THE STALLION SWORD

DANCE.

I The Isew Zealand Stud Company have again unfortunately met with a serious loss by the death of their thoroughbred stallion Sword Dance, which died at Sylvia Park on Tuesday afternoon, from inflammation of the lungs. About a week ago the horse caught cold, but he had almost recovered; and on Friday last seemed in excellent health, when he suffered a relapse, and died as above. Mr. E. D. Halstead, veterinary surgeon, under whose treatment the horse had been, made a post-mortem examination yesterday, and certified that death had resulted from inflammation of the lungs, the horse having otherwise been in a healthy condition. Sword Dance was only imported from England last year, having been purchased from lier Majesty's stud by Major Walmsley, on behalf of the company, at a cost of 700 guineas, which, however, probably mounted up to £1000 before the stallion was landed in Auckland on September 18, last year. The horse was bred in 1577 by Lord Bradford ; and Tomahawk, his sire, was by King Tom—Mincemeat (winner of the Oaks in ISo-t), by Sweetmeat, her dam Hybla. Sword Dance's dam was Duvernay, who was also dam of Quicklime, and who was by Beadsman—Cachucha, a daughter of Voltigeur ; and he commenced his racing career at Goodwood as a two-year-old, when he was beaten by Robert the Devil in the Rous Memorial Stakes. He won the September Plate at Manchester, but was defeated by Early Morn in the Juvenile Plate at the Newmarket Second October Meeting. Throughout his three-year-old career he ran consistently, but was unlucky, for, although second on four occasions, ho had no winning bracket to his name ; whilst in 18S1 he started in nine races, four of which he won. In 18S'2 he was withdrawn from j the turf.

The loss of Sword Dance is a serious one for the New Zealand Stud Company ; and it is to be regretted that their enterprise in purchasing an animal having in his veins so much of the best winning blood of the day did not meet with a more fitting reward. It is a cruel stroke of ill-fortune that, having imported tho horse at great expense, the company should have had his services for only one season. Sword Dance was mated with seven of the mares belonging to the Now Zealand Stud Company—Onyx (dam .of Nordenfeldt), Elphin, Ophelia, Lady Cicely, Vacillation, Wooduymph, and Lady _ Mersey ; and it is certain that the first six of these are in foal.