GRAND NATIONAL HISTORIES

Taranaki Daily News, 12 August 1930, Page 5

GRAND NATIONAL HISTORIES

JUMPING' OVER FORMIDABLE FENCES

GIGANTIC OBSTACLES IN THE PAST

, TO-DAY’S LONG ARDUOUS JOURNEY

To-day another Grand National Steeplechase will be contested at Riccarton. Turf historians may differ as to when and where the first cross-country race was contested in New Zealand, but of more interest is the fact that the first recognised Grand National was decided in 1876, 54' years ago. The venue was Riccarton, but the distant (four miles) was greater than the ' distance, of modern Nationals, and the fences were stiffer. But were those races harder to win than nowadays? Riccarton fences are surely stiff enough when one considers that races to-day are run infinitely faster than they were in the last century. Six took their places in the first field, when the Royal Blood gelding Royalty ridden by Mr. Martelli, carried IQst. and was ~ followed home'by the Tasmanian jumper Mousetrap, with Don Juan third. The following year the event came up for decision at Timaru, and victory was credited to Fakir, a grey gelding by. Golden Grape. The Tasmanian Mousetrap came into his own the next year, and the bold son of Camden carried a steadier of - 11 4 In 1879 Oamaru was selected for the National course, and • it was there that the famous ’chaser The Agent scored his first win and conceded nearly two stone to the initial National winner, Royalty. The Agent carried 12st. on that occasion, and the following year an extra half-stone failed to keep him back to the field. There was not a little excitement in 1881, when Clarence beat The Agent, who was carrying 13st. The double winner fell half a mile from home, leaving Clarence to score an almost bloodless victory, but the second horse, Sailor Boy, was disqualified, and F. Hedge, who had ridden Clarence, went back and brought The Agent home for second money. Three years later The Agent took part in the race again and had no difficulty in beating a field of four, two of whom baujked at the first obstacle.

Past records show that leppers from the North Island have scored heavily at the expense of their southern rivals. Of the 54 races decided, 34 winners have been North Island-bred equines, and of these five horses have accounted for eleven races The Agent for three and Mutiny, Coalition, Oakleign and Wiltshire for two each. Southern horses have won only lo times, no jumper from that Island scoring more than once, and the remaining winner is the Tasmanian-bred Mousetrap.

Riccarton "country,” by reason of the variety of obstacles provided, is recognised as the hardest steeplechase course in New Zealand. Not only are the fences high, but they are stoutly built as well, and the varying heights are liable to deceive even the best leppers. The Grand National Steeplechase course contains two fences less than the Great Northern Steeplechase, and then there is not the ‘‘hill” to be ascended and descended thrice as at Ellerslie. Still Ellerslie obstacles are uniform, and none exceeds 3ft. 9in. in height. According to measurements published, one sod wall at Riccarton is actually lower than the lowest fence at Ellerslie, but its width and the ditch in front more than compensate for the height. The highest of Riccarton jumps, the brush fence at Cutts, is about sft., and 4ft. wide at the top. This formidable obstacle is 14in. higher than any fence at Ellerslie. It is a common belief that none but exceptionally good jumpers can hope to got round safely over Riccarton country at the first time of asking. From all accounts the fences at Riccarton have not been materially altered since last year, when they were as follows:—

First. —Brush hurdles, 4ft. 4in. Second and third. —Brush double, each 4ft. 4in.

Fourth.—Cutts’, manuka brush, sft. Fifth.—Sod wall, 3ft. 9im, and ditch, 3ft. s

Sixth. —Post and rail, 3ft. Sin. Seventh. —First kennels double, 3ft. Pin.

Eighth. —Second kennels double, 4ft. 3in.

Ninth.—Sod wall, 3ft. 6in. Tenth.—-Manuka brush, 4ft. 9in. Some idea of the class of obstacles that horses were required to jump in the old days may lie obtained from the following description of the Grand'National course in 1889: —

Nos. 1, 11 and 21.—A brush furze fence, sft. Gin. to sft. lOin. in height. Can be jumped through, but is not a very inviting one for the general run of liorses. A trap. Nog. 2, 12 and 22.—Ditch and bank, with two rails on top. The first of the double about 3ft. Bin. high. • Nos. 3, 13 and 23—Rails, brushed with broom, about 3ft. Gin. high. Nos. 4, 14 and 24. —Ditch and bank; wide ditch and thick bank, about 3ft. Sin. high. . ’ Nos. 5, 15 and-25. —Sod bank, wide ditch on take off side, bank about 3ft. Gin. high. Nos. 6,1 G and 2G— Brushed hurdle, 3ft. 6in. high, Nos. 7 and 17. —Brushed hurdle, 4ft. high, first of the double.

Nos. 8 and 18. —Flight of hurdles. Nos. 9 and 19. —Bank and furze, with two rail fence leaning up the bank in front. Wide ditch. Awkward fence. Nos. 10 and 20. —Ditch and bank fence, 3ft. 9in. high, wide ditch and thick bank.

Regarding the first fence, a writer, of those days states that the custodian had left this obstacle at a height of 7ft., but the stewards wisely ordered him to reduce it! Probably that custodian never rode over fences,. or he might have- had some consideration for the brave fellows whose job it was to get horses to face tough obstacles. Several of the National horses will be making their first appearance ova? Riccarton “country" to-day, namely Aurora Borealis, Omeo, Wharncliffe and Corneroff. In the past this proved practically an insurmountable obstacle, and the winner usually has one or two failures before getting home. The last three winners, on the, other hand—Peter Maxwell, .Beau Cavalier apd. Wiltshire—explode that theory, for they had never,

prior to their 'success, appeared in public at Riccarton. It suggests that the fields of to-day do not put Up such strenuous all round opposition as they did in years gone 'by, or possibly the country.is not so formidable. It cannot be put down to inferior jumping, for some of the old-time steeplechasers could lose to-day’s jumpers over tho fences. It may be that nowadays horses arc put. to the game much younger than they used to be. Not so long ago the ranks of hurdlers and steeplechasers were almost solely recruited from flat . racers who had seen their best days so far as speed goes. More than likely the solution to the success of inexperienced horses over country lies in their youth. The following are the winners in the past decade, the horse’s name being preceded by its order of- favouritism:— 1920. 6' Coalition, 11. McSweeney (11. 13), 7niin. 29 2-ssec. 1921. 1 Coalition, H. McSweeney (12.7)

7min. 15 4-ssec. 1922. 4 Oakleigh, J. Roach (10.7), G min. 55 l-sscc. 1923. 1 Oakleigh, J. Roach (12.0), 7 min. 10 2-ssec. 1924. 10 Sturdee, E. Warner (9,.4), 7 min. 4sec. 1925. 7 Tuki, H. McSweeney, (9.4 J 7min. 21sec. 1926. Peter Maxwell, R. McTavish, (9.1), Oinin. 53 3-sscc. 1927. —1 Beau Cavalier, S. Henderson, (M. 7 7min. Isec. 1928—4 Wiltshire, R. Syme, (10.04), 7min. 3 4-ssec. 1929.—1 Wiltshire, R. Syme, (10.9), 7 min. 7sec. HOW LAST YEAR’S RACE WAS WON Wiltshire, who was £lOOO better fancied’than anything else in the race, hit out very freely from the start, and crossing the stand double the first time, he had charge" from King’s Guard, Matu, Fabriano, Rangi Sarto, Maunga and Kawini. Wiltshire had a life at Cutts, but maintained his lead for anotAer furlong, and then King’s Guard ran to the front but lost ground at the kennelfl' double, and Wiltshire was left in charge again. King’s Guard regained, the loot around but Wiltshire gained at the next fence and led into the straight at the commencement of the second round. Wiltshire, Fabriano and King’s Guard were on almost even terms at the stand double, but Whitshire was going easily. King’s Guard took charge as soon as the double was crossed'and was joined by Fabriano, while Wiltshire was checked and’compelled to run several lengths behind them. This time he made no mistake at Cutts’ and with a ipile to go he was pulling. Fabriano raced in front along the back. Maunga fell at the sod wall with nearly a mile to go, and Kawini, apparently interfered with by the fallen horse, lost ground. Wiltshire outjumped King’s Guard and Fabriano , at the kennels double, and at the next fence shot right away and was several lengths in front in a trice. From there on it was merely a question of Wiltshire’s standing up. He took the two remaining fences well and ran home a decisive victory by a good half-dozen-lengths from Matu, who was. ridden out to beat Fabriano by three lengths. King’s Guard was a poor fourth, Rangi Sarto fifth, and Kawini last. Though it was not an inspiring Grand National, Wiltshire redeemed it by an excellent performance, and it ■ would have taken a good horse to beat him. The victory of Wiltshire was very popular. He is a chestnut gelding by Day Comet out of Lady Lobelia, trained and ridden by R. Syme, and owned by Mr. T. Wilson, who won a Grand National with Waimai and thus holds the distinction of.thrice- winning the country’s greatest fcrosp-eountry event.