THE ARAB AS A RACER.
Replying to an article that appeared in Baily's Magazine headed " Anecdotal Sport," in which reference was made to the Arab as a racer, Charles W. A. Oakcley has the following, which should prove interesting to those fond of old-time records, particularly as they have a local bearing :—ln: — In 1854, the Champion Cup, value 200gs, was run for an Umballa, and won by my horse Mercury, an Arab being second, and an F.nglisb horse fourth. The conditions were : — English hoFses, 9.5 ; Colonials, 8.7 ; Arabs, a feather. Two miles. Mercury (Tasmanian), 8.7 1 Banker (Arab), feather 2 Boomerang (New South Wale 3), 8.7 .. .. 3 Oregon (English), 9.5 4 Won by one length. Time, 3min 51iscc. Banker was at that time the best Arab .in Upper India. He carried about 6.7, no jockey under that weight being available. At tie tame meeting Oregon, carrying 10.5, beat two good Arabs, Figaro and Surplice, carrying 8.1.2 and 8.4-, over 1£ miles. Ai. Calcutta, about the same time, we finci in the Turf Club Purse, 1^ miles : — Beeswing (Ta3manian), 9.7 1 Nero (Arab), 8.6 2 ' Penthesilea (English), 10.0 3 Meg Merrilies (country-bred), 8.10 4 Nero was one of the be3t Arabs of his day, and was tho winner of the Governor-Gene-ral's Cup at Calcutta in 185b, which, however, he owect to a great mistake of judgment on the part of the riders of the other horses. As it was a very memorable race I may give the details : The Governor-General's Cup, of dEIOO. St. Leger course. Nero (Arab), 8.5 .._,, .. •• 1 Mercury (Tasmanian), 9.0 2 Beeswing (Tasmanian), 9.0 3 Meg Merrilies (ccuntry-bred), 8.9 .. .» .. 4 Diana (English), 10.7 5 Nero made strong running from the post, and, the other horses all waiting on one another, was at one time a distance ahead. Three-quarters of a mile from Koine they closed up, but it was too late, and the Arab won by a neck. The editor of the Indian Sporting Review wrote : — "We are clear that if Mercury had been with him through tho race the Arab would not have had a chance at the end. Time, 3min 32see." Mercury, by the way, was a good instance of a successful cross between an English thoroughbred horse and an Arab mare, his sire being Lucifer, who won the Goodwood Stakes about the year 1840, and his dam an Arab mare sent to Tasmania by Mr Charles Prinsep.- There is no doubt that he owed his stoutness (for his best distance was two miles) to this Arab parentage, aud also his good constitution, for at the time of the above race he waJB about eleven years old !
THE ARAB AS A RACER.
Otago Witness, Issue 2373, 24 August 1899, Page 39
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