ROYAL RIDER

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18594, 3 January 1935, Page 6

ROYAL RIDER

RACES AT MARTON

PRINCE ON TOP-WEIGHT

GOOD HORSEMANSHIP

The appearance of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, as a gentleman rider at the Alarton Jockey Club’s meeting on Hew Year’s Day aroused the crowd to an extraordinary pitch of enthusiasm. Through his active participation in a prominent sport of the people he established with them a bond that time will not destroy. Tlie race was the Ladies’ Bracelet, of £SO and trophy valued at £lO, gentlemen riders, 1 mile 137 yards. The Prince’s mount was the top-weight, Black Alan, owned by Air. O. L. Bull, and handicapped at 13st. 2ih. The minimum weight was list. Every vestige of the restraint and reserve that characterise New Zealand crowds vanished wTien the slim figure of the Prince, in his jacket of green silk with its sash of gold and his green cap, entered the birdcage. There was a feeling of real joy in the atmosphere. It was the first time out of England that the Duke had consented to ride in a public contest and there was appreciation of the fact that a sportsman’s compliment was being paid to the racegoers of Marton and of all New Zealand. But transcending this special cause for grati-fication-was the human touch of it all. . SPURS NOT WORN Having been given a leg up on to his beautiful black mount the Duke, who did not wear spurs, adjusted his stirrup leathers with his own hands and, to the accompaniment of clapping and cheering and friendly cries of encouragement, rode, in his place round the. birdcage. Black Man was a model of dignified deportment. The ribbons of green and gold had been plaited into his mane and tail, tlie white bridle set off his shapely head and he moved on to the course air of an animal who meant to do best no matter how heavily weighted. \ The Duke’s cavalry style of riding contrasted with the crouch of all the other riders, with whom he had shaken hands before mounting. The Royal preliminary was watched with the keenest interest and there was a mass movement toward the totalisator. Meanwhile the Duke had dismounted and he spent some time around the course before returning to the starting place almost in front of the stands. The eventual winner, The Ark, who carried list 131 b, was made one of the favorites, but Black Alan was not neglected, and wound up third in the betting. He was bracketed on the machine with Red Flush,

GOODWILL OF THE SPECTATORS As the crowd waited for the balloon to he pulled clown to signal that the race could he started the atmosphere was electric, and whatever the totalisator had to say no rider ever carried the same goodwill of the crowd as was accorded the Duke.

From a somewhat ragged start Black Man jumped out well and the Duke had secured a favorable place before the turn was reached. There was the most excited applause when he took the lead round the back, though the defeat of the gallant,horse in the straight was generally anticipated by those who realised |iow heavy a task the handicapper had given him. Rounds and rounds of cheering arose when the Duke, who took fourth position, rode back to the birdcage, and there was a particularly rousing outburst when he unbuckled the girths and. pulling the saddle off, walked with it to the weighing room.

NEWS DISTRIBUTION

MESSAGES FROM CHATEAU

Working at the rate of 66 words a minute, a highly sensitive portable teleprinter set installed at The, Chateau promptly and effectively kept the outside world apprised of the movements of the Duke of Gloucester at the National Park. It transmitted all other messages in connection with the Royal visit to the mountain playground. The machine worked overtime on Sunday night and met every requirement. Direct telephone communication with any outside exchange was also available. An emergency system was superimposed ou the existing Chateau and other circuits to Hamilton without interfering with the normal facilities.