TALK OF THE DAY. By MAZEPPA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2371, 10 August 1899, Page 34

TALK OF THE DAY. By MAZEPPA.

THE DUNEDIN CHAMPAGNE STAKES. It is with regret that I hear of the proposal to do away with this race. It is not an old race by comparison with several of its rivals, but it is one on whioh the D.J.C. has to some extent depended for keeping up the tone of its Cup meeting, and besides it has on several occasions supplied an exceedinglyinteresting contest. To those who take a greater interest in racing than that which, proceeds merely from the betting lists of the day it may not be altogether a waste of time to cast a glance at the history of our Champagne. The first race was run in 1878, when Mr Kitching's Atlantic, trained in Mr Delamain's stable, beat the more fancied Captain Douglas and another. lam not going to pretend that this was a good race, nor that we lost our hair in the excitement that followed the Slander colt's triumph over Marie Antoinette and throe others in 1879. But in 1880 the race was by no means easy to pick in one. The Champagne that year went to a youngster who subsequently grew to be one of the greatest horses that ever raced in New Zealand. I refer of course to Sir Modred. This colt had previously raced only once, in the Welcome Stakes, when he was beaten out of a place. This somewhat prejudiced him. in the eyes of backers, and they preferred the Waimea colt, who was trained by Jack Chaafe and ridden by Stewart "Waddell. The result however was a very easy victory for Sir Modred. Ho won by only a length but with any amount in hand. The next season the Hon. R. Campbell started two colts, Somnua and Idalium, and declared to win with the latter, but this brother to Sir Modred got all the worst of the start and the race lay entirely between the Envy filly and Somnus who were together up to the home turn, after which Somnus took charge to the finish. In 1882 no fewer than nine started, among them guoh celebrities as Vanguard, Nonasnse. Tue~

quoiae, Armourer and Taiaroa." The race was entirely a one-horse affair. Nonsense was j in great buckle that day. She jumped off quiokest, and the further they went the more did she show that nothing else could gallop with her. Thjer however was not foreseen by backers, who made Vanguard favourite. The next year's race was a fiasco owing to the presence of the redoubtable Oudeis, who had won both his races at Iticcarton, and proved himself to be a perfect galloping machine. There were no penalties in those days, and nothing cared to face Oudeis and his stable companion Barnaby 'excepting Water Nymph, the latter "owned by Mr W. Souness. The race itself was a perfect farce. There was no betting and Oudeis won as he liked. In the following year, again, it was a one-horse race. The iWatersprite colt seemed to hold his own with Lady Evelyn for a while, but once in the straight the Hon. G. M'Lean's filly drew away and won hard held. In lc>Bs we saw the Champagne Stakes fluked. Stonyhurst ought to have won no doubt, but his rider made too sure of the result, and Jack Kean just managed to pip him with Everton Lad. The field that year included Spade Guinea and Fussilade — company good enough for Ascot. •In 1886 penalties were introduced for the first time, and in a splendid ftfeld of seven, six of whom, were high-class racohorses, Apropos and the Fallacy colt had to carry extra. La jftoae was made favourite, but she got beaten but of a place, and Artillery won by a head from Ruby after a splendid finish. The next year quality was again well represented by a trio beloWing to Dan O'Brien, who started Gipsy King, Sextant and Rose and Blacii, to say nothing of St. Swithin (whose fame came in later years) and the well-fancied Kimoerley. Sextant lost his chance by being left at the post, and Gipsy King had to gajlop all he knew to head Kimberley at the rinish. Possibly Derrett may have been doing a 'lttle kidding, but at the time it seemed a raally good race. In 1888 j we had the famous Carbine challengeed by Manton, and Adulation, Ravenswing and Wolverine included in the company. The result need not be mentioned, but it womd have been a strong field even if Carbine had stayed away. The five starters in 1899 were also a good lot, as will be readily conceded when I remind my readers that Cynisca, and Dankfield wore able to carry penalties and beat such a sterling racer as Scots Grey. The next year, though only four started, the quality was undeniable. Any olub might consider itself lucky to get such such youngsters as Pygmalion, Freedom, Thackeray and Town Moor opposing each other. The penalised Pygmalion was favourite, but Freedom cut him down, and the latter in turn had to give way in the straight to the erratic Thackeray. Florrie and Cajolery represented quality in 1891, and all present will long remember how handsomely the beautiful Cajolery won. The 1892 field comprised a very select 10l in Daydream, Wakawatea, Stepniak, Saracen, and Launoeston — the very pick of the colony, and the half-dozen starters in 1693 were not so bad when they included Response, Lakeshell and Outpost. Nor was there anything to grumble about the following year when Neroli beat Blufire, and Ambush and Casket were in the party. The 1895 field, if binall, was of high calibre, seeing that Gipsy Grand met Safeguard and Musketry; ar>d there were seven starters, one of them more backed than the winner in the following year's race won by Bombshell. In 1897 Mr Stead started both Gold Medallist and Multiform, yet, though the real odds "were 1000 to 1 on the pair bracketed, two others were ready to start, these being Goldleaf and Blazen In 1898 there wore again four 3tarter3, Mr Stead owning two of them, and then missing the prize, whioh went to Dunda3. The race last .Vlarch was of course practically a walk-over, nothing being found in any other stable capable of challenging Courtier with any hope of heating him. Yet the thought comes to my mind that the D.J.C. is giving up this stake— if it is to be given vp — rather prematurely. If tlie club had funked after Oudeis' s performance in 1383 many a good contest would have been missed. Every club must take some chances of This sort — the chance of a good horse coming along now and then and paralysing a race. But, taken year m year out, I think we may say that the. Champagne has been a success, and if not too late I would seriously advise tho club to keep to this stake, which after all does not cost very much.