"OLD STAGER'S" STORY.

NZ Truth, Issue 605, 20 January 1917, Page 9

"OLD STAGER'S" STORY.

''Old Stager" writes: Motoring' through Taupo last month on the way to see the Cup, we passed the old blockhouse site, which took my mind back to the days of the armed constabulary. In the early '60*8 Taupo boasted a race meeting of its own, and what ah enjoyable turn out it was. No totalisator to snare 12% per cent, nor loud-mouthed "bookies," but the good old "Calcutta" drawn the night before the meeting. In those . days horses used to be walked from as far north as Auckland and as far south as Hastings. I well remember the late Ted Cults being there, also two old cronies, Jim Mann and Bob' Gooseman. The former used to be the owner and trainer and Gooseman was his jockey. They would set out on a hack and lead the racers, while another hack would pack the feed. The trip used to take several days, and walking exercise was all the horses got during the trip. This kept them fit, and the class m those days was very little inferior to now, and certainly not at all m stamina. At one meeting a well-known trainer was most anxious to buy one of his horses 'm the first sweep, but he was' outbid by the "hoffisahs." He was wrath at being outbid, but consoled himseJf and resolved to buy the horse m the sweepstake on another race run later m the day. He told his jockey that he would take the seat himself m the first steeplechase as the course was tricky and the jockey might take a wrong turning. As there was no suggestion of a reflection qf his capabilities, the usual rider w4s mollified. When the first race came on, the trainer had the seat and the course was pointed out. It was round the block house a couple of times and a road had to be crossed. Somehow or other , when the ' owner was winning easily ■ he made a mistake and came down the road for. homeuwhile there was .still a "lap to go. The spectators shouted to him but he could not hear, and by the time he had pulled up the others had gone the right way and pursuit was hopeless. However, with the jockey m the saddle, the horse went the right course next start and won. The sweepstake took some collecting, for the man who was put up to buy the horse tried to rob the owner, but eventually he was forced to disgorge.