DRAUGHT HORSES.

Southland Times, Issue 14512, 13 December 1900, Page 2

DRAUGHT HORSES.

The display all round was a graud one, probably not to be beaten in New Zealand, There is no doubt that Mr Da vie, the judge, had a most arduous task, and there is every excuse for the long time taken in awarding the prizes in many of the classes. It would be well if the Association in future would divide the draught 6tock into two sections — breeding and working — and appoint a judge or judges for. each. In the clasa for entires over three years ohl Mr Holland was pinned in front, beating a good field, and in three year olds Mr Gorman's very nice colt " Baden- Powell" scored somewhat easily. The two-year olds were a grand lot and took a lot of judging, Mr Chrystal eventually taking first ana second honours. The yearlings were also good, Mr Drain winning. Nothing but good can be said about the draught mares. Three beauties were shown as in foal or with foal at foot, Mr Drain winning, with Mr Sutton second and Mr Blakie third. In the class for brood mare with two of her progeny Mr Blakie's grand mare " Darling," now 18 years old, could not be beaten, the progeny showing what a wonderfully good dam she has been. The yeld mares were fit to show anywhere, probably seven better mares could not be found in New Zealand. After a long inspection the judge placed Mr Charters first, Mr Blakie second and Mr Drain third. In the threeyear old fillies Mr Drain turned the tables on the \Josgiel exhibit. Mr Gerrard got in front of Mr Sutton in a very capital class of two-year old fillies, and in a wonderfully well grown lot of yearlings Mr Blakie won from Mr Patrick. The draught geldings were a great show, Mr Patrick obtaining first and second honours, and in the smaller class Mr Sutton did likewise. In the pairs Mr Blakie, with two goqd mares «' Queen" and " Princess Beatrice," won from Mr Charters, and ih the teams of three Mr Drain scored again. The horses for lorry work and for spring vans were a very useful lot, the firsts falling to Messrs James Patrick, John Everett and William Martin. For best typp of Clydesdale at the show Mr Charters was first. THOROUIiHBKEDS. The three entires wore n fair lot, "Battle- 1 field" winning. The vp&res were few in ! number, the first prize falliug to a, nice mare by "Son of a Gun." Lady's hacks were very few iv number— perhaps all the ladies have taken to bicyefos— as in days gone I bye we used to have large and good entries in this class, and both at Gore and Thornbury there were many and capital entries. | The carriage and trotting stallions were one i and the same and of no especial merit, i Roadsters were a very taking lot, possibly | the heavy-weight claas the best seen here, Mr Ryder's Thomburv winner scored again. The cobs werujfair and the ti-oop horses very good indeed. The prize for ponies under 14 hands was won by " The Little Gen tlonmn," beating Mr T. O'Connor's wonderfully good J pony, a winner at Gore and many other | shows. There seems to lie a little muddle I over this class, as doubtless the wiuner is of quite a different type to Mr O'Connor's mare — the one by a hackney stallion, the other a purebred pony. It would be well if cobs or hackneys could be kept apart from pure ponies. The harness horses were good throughout, and amongst them some of great merit; the winners in the class over 15 hands being particularly so. The jumping seemed to please the spectators generally end possibly they have to be

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pleased, but there does not seem to.be much fun in baiting horses over the same wretched little hurdles time after time until they got too sick of it to jump decently.