ENGLISH AND FOREIGN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1756, 18 July 1885, Page 20

ENGLISH AND FOREIGN.

" Fred " Swindells died at Brighton in May, in the 74fch year of his age, writes " Hudibras." This may seem a»somewhat irreverent and familiar way to speak of a gentleman who at the time of his death must have been worth upwards of a quarter of a million of money. But no racing man would recognise " Mr" Swindells, while everyone knew " Fred" or " Lord Freddy." He was perhaps the greatest commissioner the turf has ever seen, and throughout the racing world his fame was known. Forty yoars ago his name was a power, 40 years hence it will bo a proverb. For a year or two past he had ceased active participation in the sporfc of his life, and during these later years I have been more than once favoured by being in his society and listening to his turf tales. A clearer-headed man never existed, aud no matter what the walk in life he chose he must, by sheer force of talent, eventually come to the top. He originally hailed from Manchester, and his beginning was humble. Although a professional turfite he was never a bookmaker, nor was he a regular backer. Commissioner is the only term which fitly expresses his position. His first real start in life was when Charles XII. won the Liverpool Cup in 1839, and shortly afterwards he migrated to London, which he made his headquarters ever since. Of the many coups with which ho was from first to last connected it is impossible here to give a list. Their name is literally legion. His was the master mind that not only planned them but carried them out, and in those days, when thousands could be won where hundreds can now, planning and executing commissions were labours of skill and ingenuity. He was in many of John Scott's good things, beginning with Charles XII. ut supra. In connection with Mr Merry, he could tell all the ins and outs of Chanticleer's Goodwood Stakes in 1848, and Lioness' run away Cesarewitch in 1863 ; while in the palmy days of William Day and Woodyeates he was in ' the Chester Cup.victories of Joe Miller (1852), and One Act (1856) ; in Dulcibella's Cesarewitch (1860), and in Catch-'em-Alive's Cambridgeshire (18o3). Handicaps, rather thau classic races, were his forte, but he was Sir Joseph Hawley's right-hand man over Beadsman's Derby (1858). With horses of his own also lie gave the ring good cause to remember him. Three Chester Cups, Leamington in 1857 and 1859, and Glenlivat in 1871 ; the Lincoln Handicap with Tomahawk in 1874 ; the Cesarewitch with Cecil in 1868 ; and the Cambridgeshire with Weatherbound in 1860. Then he went for a good stake when Truth gelding got done by a short head by Aventuriere in the Cesarewitch of 1874, and also when Woodlands finished second to Rosebery for the same race in 1876 ; but to show his shrewdness I may mention that he also profited by the winners in each case. He also had much to do with Don Juan's victory the year before last ; but I have often heard him remark that the biggest stake ho ever won was over Salpinete's Cesarewitch in 1865. To the very last he continued plain, almost primitive, in his manners, and never tried fro ape the conversation or conduct of his social superiors — a failing to which successful turfites are prone ; and his auecdotes, told in broad Lancashire dialect, "were both instructive and amusing. He is the author of the saying credited to so many, that " A bet is never well made until it is well hedged," and that was the principle he acted on through life. So doubtless would you and I, reader, if we could get 5 to 1 chances when they were at 50 to 1. Never did a better specimen of the rugged type of humanity which the turf has led to success and afliuencc exist than Fred Swindells, who has just paid that debt which we must all some time pay.

In England there is an Arab horse named Asil, the property of Admiral Tryon, who is evidently a believer in the desert-born from whom the English horse derivos so much of his excellence. The Duke of Portland does not hold the Arab ( in such high estimation, and offered to match his horse lambic, a very moderate performer, to give Asil no less than 4st 71b, and run him the last three miles of the Beacon course. The offer was accepted, and a match made for £100 a side. The Arab was in a first-class stable, and had all the benefit of good training, but notwithstanding the difference in weight the Britishers laid 5 to 4 on their countryman, who indulged the Arab with the lead for over two miles, when he joined him, and leaving the Arab in hopeless difficulties half way up the hill, the English horse cantered in a winner by 20 lengths.

Amongst the members of the new Conservative Ministry in England is Lord Harris, .who is well known to cricket supporters as the leader of the mixed team who visited the Colonies a few years ago. The new Under-Secretary for India has latterly busied a good deal in politics, and late English files state that in future more of his time would be occupied by his Parliamentary duties. The Ministry also includes the name of Mr Henry Chaplin, well known in Home sporting circles as the owner of the Derby winner, Hermit. From the foregoing it will be seen that two important branches of sport are well represented in the new team.

An accident of a painful nature occurred at the excavation works on the Clydo Quay, Wellington, on Thursday. One of the, men engaged in stripping a high cliff accidentally let a pick fall, which struck a man named Doylo working beneath on the back, the point 6f the pick penetrating one of his lungs.