TALK OF THE DAY

Otago Witness, Issue 2664, 5 April 1905, Page 50

TALK OF THE DAY

EXIT GOLDSPUR.

A sho£ which rang out on Friday last r terminated the career of as gallant and speedy a horse as ever carried a saddle or looked through a bridle in. this colony. It sounded the death knell of Goldspur, the son of Rubezahl and Rosespur, whe was one . of the most consistent and popular performers that has raced here during recent ] years, and who, although, beaten occasionally, invariably gave his supporters a good go for , their money. It will He remembered that | some months ago Goldspur broke down, so badly that it was deemed advisable to in- i dulge him in a lengthy spell, which was partially terminated about three weeks ago by his owner, Mr T. Godfrey, commencing to hack the Rosespur gelding, who apparently had again become quite sound, and it was amongst the possibilities of the future, that he would again sport silk. Unfortuy nately on Thursday last Goldspur, who was running out in a paddock at his owner's place, slipped his rug during the night, and in his violent efforts to extricate himself fell between a fence and the stump of a tree, with the result that his spine was seriously injured, in addition to his receiving other injuries. An effort was made to save the horse's life, but on Friday a friendly bullet was called into requisition, ' and Goldspur, who had won a warm spot in the affections of the race-going public, wended his way to the happy hunting grounds. Goldspur had a somewhat checkered career, and at one time his lucky star narrowly averted his becoming an ordinary hard-working tram horse, in which event we should have lost one of the greatest weight-carriers and record-making performers that has ever been seen in this colony. Goldspur was bred by Mr T. Thompson, and was got by the English-Jrred Seesaw— , Fairyland horse Rubezahl. His dam, Roseepur, was a daughter of Hotspur and Rose- ■ spur, and although Goldspur was a tall. narrow-built, leggy, Roman-nosed type of horse, still his dam traces back to an Arab mare, of wnom all signs were eradicated by the powerful individuality of the sires with whom her progeny was mated. Goldspur was foaled in 1892. and was brought to Dunedin with other horses about four years later. He was under offer to several persons at a hack price, and Mi Taggart, buyer for the Dunedin City Tram Company, was within an ace of securing the gelding ; but W. Pine, at that time a well-known light-weight, bought the horse, and h© ran his first race at Palmerston South, where he was defeated by Toxa over five furlongs, in a lOsovs hack race, of which sum 2-sovs w*>afc to the second JiorsOj fco that Goldxi

as he was popularly known, won coin at the first time of asking. This was an unpretentious start, but later hi^ deeds created "Goldspur" cabs and '_busses, "Goldspur" bookmakers, "Goldspur'' turf scribes, and m his first season he garnered £1039 Is in stakes, which was not bad for a horse behind whom we once possessed an excellent chance of riding for a penny. He started in 12 races during his first season, and his wins included a Great Easter Handicap, of 500sovs, which he won in 1.28£ by two lengths, after defeating Barshot, Waiuku, Vanilla, Mannlicher, Skirmisher, and several ether good horses. Before running his second race h e was leased by 3Mr J. Loughlin, for whom he registered some good perform- ! anees. At the end of his first season Goldspur wejt into Mr H. Goodman's stable, but went amiss, and was sold to Mr T. Godfrey at somewhere in the neighbourhood of 40sovs. At this stage it may be interesting to know that Goldspur's name cropped up a little while back whilst the writer was engaged in conversation with W. M'Donald, who is now acting as trainer to the Hon. G. M'Lean M'Donald at the time Goldspur started to win all before him was in Australia, from where he returned in the off season which followed after the gelding's first scries of successes. He was invited to have a Icok at Goldspur, and on -running his hand over one of his forelegs, expressed a doubt as to whether the horse would stand training much longer. This opinion was not seriously entertained at the time, but when the horse was subsequently put in work again, he was not goaug Jong before the leg gave way. He was patched up, but only sported silk once as a five-year-old, and broke down again. It vras at this stage that - he. went into the possession of Mr Godfrey, who retained the old fellow up to the time of his death. Gnldspur was spelled for about a year by his new owner, and as a seven-year-old i he started 11 times, and scored in his three last consecutive efforts. On his next season he started in 18 races, and won seven. One of his performances that season was to carry 11.13 in the Selwyn Handicap, run at Riccarton, and beat 13 others over six furlongs in 1.16 4-5. Later, with 9.8 on his back, he went out a strong favourite for Pampero's C.J.C. Stewards' Handicap. Another great weight-carrying effort he made was when he was beaten by St. Denis (11 0) when carrying 12.2 in the Selywn Handicap, in which he was unlucky to be defeated, in 1.18 3-5. The most money Goklsmir ever earned on the totalisatcr in a single race ??? /TH? 1 - Thi<s was stak ed on him in the O.J.C Electric Plate, w.f.a., four furlongs, ior which he was a strong favourite, against Mensohifcoff, Indian Queen, and Calibre Indian Queen had won the- Welcome stakes on the first day of the meeting, and Menschikoff had turned the tables on her m the Juvenile Plate, co that punters must have highly fancied Goldspur to have supported him against two such particularly .smart juveniles. Menschikoff won by two lengths, m. the smart time of 4-7 4-5, and the filly beat Goldspur a head for second place. Goldspur was particularly smar<;"off the mark in his races, and in fche last-men-tioned event he led for over a furlong, a distance which he could be safely relied on IZ ne S?k ate n ear "11" from a standing start. He was seldom asked to run trials when trained by Arthur Godfrey, but I believe he once ran down a half at Eicoarton with his shoes on in 48. and six furlongs in. 1.15 under the same conditions on the same track. In all, Goldspur started in 105 races, of which he won 38, and his total wins amounted to £2809 16s. He seldom finished oui, of a place, and his owner, who regarded him as his best friend, has been in receipt of a great deal of sympathy since the news of the horse's death became- public