A STRAIGHT TIP.

NZ Truth, Issue 78, 15 December 1906, Page 2

A STRAIGHT TIP.

Priest and Price. It is not often that the deeds and the prowess of jockeys are referred to from a church pulpit ; but not long ago, when one of the Redemp- ' torist Fathers was conducting a mission for young men m a Wellington church he prefaced hi« remarks one evening' by informing his hearers ; that he was going to give them a j "straight tip" and assured them j that it would be a better tip than |

I ever George Price could give them. j This announcement caused a slight I star among the masculine mass who ! were apparently surprised to hear tdie ; popular Wanganui horseman's name | mentioned from . the pulpit: On noticing the manner m .which his remarks toad been /received, -by certain of his listeners the preacher proceeded'tp explaiii himself. He.- -'Dead mentioned Price's name, he. stated, because he 'understood that that gentleman was usually looked upon as one of the shrewdest of racing- folk. Tflie young si)orts m . the. congregation, though they remained taciturn, evij den tly /"agreed with 'the Fattier m his selection, so the good man delivered to his hearers the ''straight tip," and urged upon' them .to give it due attention. Let them, he said, look upon racing as a sport if they would, but not let it absorb too much of their time and savmgs, ; id the blasting of their,., hap.pioiess, the detriment of their saltation, and many aar" injunction, of like sensible nature rang from the lips of the pastor that night. It is quite refreshing to find a | clergyman who knows something about racing ; a s too often they are of the wowser class who do nothing but shriek out hell T fire and damnation for everyone connected sport ;and air that pertains to it; especially, the sprirt of Kings,, the- while they know nothing of a practical nature of it. Many readers are aware that a priest m New South Wales bred that good colt Antonius, and no doubt the gentleman would have liked to race him, but for a modest, feeling inspired by the cloth ; while an English clergyman hired, owned and raced Bluegow«n (Derby winner) and other crocks. I would like to see the day when clergyman would bwilling to extend a little more interest and broader feeling towards all sport and cannot help thinking that were it so, their sympathy, and 'even participation, would tend to elevate the sport to a higher level. With only 0.7 to carry Golden Cairn looks to -have a chance m the Railway Handicap at Auckland. The company may, however, prove a class too good.