INTERVIEWING THE WINNER.

NZ Truth, Issue 179, 21 November 1908, Page 2

INTERVIEWING THE WINNER.

The practice of press, men in,tervie%ylng and publishing the experienced" of the boy who rode the winner of a big race like the New Zealand Cup is somewhat silly. The average jockey boy requires all his intelligence to be devoted to his mount, and seldom has time m a race to prepare half a column of matter for newspaper publication. As the interviewing of the winning jockevi it fa»hioua.ble- «ye» - if

foolish, I interviewed Fred Davis after winning the Stead Cup at lliccarton on Saturday last. In answer .to my inquiry concerning the incidents of the race, Davis replied, "I was third on the rails at the post. There were four other horses outside of Bobrikoff. The sun wasblazing west by south, a point southerly ; while a gentle zephyr-like breeze ,came from the east. The track was bathed m glorious sunshine, and the cmeralp green of the turf was a splendid fore-ground for the mid-distance effect of the grandstands that stood clear-cut . like marble minarets against the orange and gold of. the sky-line. The sounds of sweet melody from the band, mellowed by distance was wafted to my ears. Calm and inscrutable as Fate, Harry Piper stood on his pedestal one hand on the starling lever, while the sun threw irradiant shafts of light from . the gem that adorned the ring he woi?e on the „ secy- • ond finger of the dexter- hand. Horses ' Nos. 2, 4, and 7 were restive at , the barrier, whilst .Bobrikoff bore himself fit- ' tingly as the descendant of an equine king. Promptly upon the release of the' barrier Me dashed out, last" but one. At. tne three furlongs post my mount was moving like a machine, and, with long, sweeping strides, m perfect unison v to the music of the band, closed up on the leaders. At about 75i yards from the Winning post I felt assurqd my trouble j^was over, excepting collecting my winning mount. From this out Bobrikoff ran on like a racehorse, romping home an easy winner by an eyelash.-- « "Yes, j I am more than seven ; . belong to -, the Hard-Shell Baptists' faith : neither smoke/ drink^ nor kiss girls ; and intend to invest my winnings m municipal debentures.' "Don't, mention it ;■...■ ..you can have a yard of such copy any tinie you want it." The unassuming Frederick left us to- ..walk home, just as if he had not yet won. a big race., :.,,■ :. "•• i