GOOD OLD DAYS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 732, 3 August 1929, Page 12

GOOD OLD DAYS

’CHASING AT MARTON In the good old days when steeplechasing used to be held at York Farm, near Marton, there was a stiff post-and-rail fence at the back of the course, adjacent to a public house, and the publican and loungers used to stand on the hotel verandah and watch the races. In one event, as the field passed the Pub the first time, a humorist shoted out, “Come and have a ‘spot,’ boys!" Things happened in tho next round, and only two horses were left in the x-ace when they came to the post-and-rails in the following (and last) round. “What about it ?" said one jockey to the other. “I’m on,” l'eplied his opponent. Then both reined in, and hitched their horses to the fence. It was a matter of seconds only to hop over to the pub and “stop one.” Then, remounting, they gave their nags a run at the fence, and disappeared round the ti ack followed by a salvo of cheers from the publican and his friends. The Old sport who related this tale a point-to-point steeplechase gathering at Marton finished up by saying that the stewards kicked up a terrible 1-ow, but when the .reason of tho delay was explained they treated the matter as a joke. These happenings probably account for the slow times l’ecorded in “the good old days.”