MEMORIES OF BRIGHT GLOW

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1933, Page 9

MEMORIES OF BRIGHT GLOW

SOME FINE PERFORMANCES.

SPLENDID-LOOKING CHESTNUT.

(By “Hurry On.”)

The death at Stratford a couple of days ago of Bright Glow brings to mind many memories of that splendid looking chestnut mare. She was a glorious colour, a rich looking chestnut, and she looked a picture in the birdcage. The writer will never forget the stir she created when she paraded for the Stewards’ Handicap at Riccarton in November, 1928. Everybody in the official stand was looking at her and asking who' she was. The late Richard Longley, one of the veteran trainers told the writer then that he considered y she was the finest looking mare he had ever seen in the Riccarton birdcage. She made her debut on a racecourse at Opunake in the Electric Hack Handicap on St. Patrick’s Day of 1927 but started the outsider in a field of ten and was not prominent. She raced on two other occasions that season without success. Her first start in the spring was in the Waihi Hack Handicap at the Taranaki Hunt meeting. She had been working well at Hawera and received solid support, only Bisox being better backed. Though she only won by half a length she carried out her task in a style that angered well for her future. She was next produced in the Maumahaki Stakes at Waverley and once more triumphed over Bisox, this- time decisively by two and a-half lengths. Her next outing saw her score a comfortable though narrow win in the Atiawa Hack Cup at New Plymouth on .Boxing Day.

That was her last hack race. More out of a compliment to the club, of which he is a steward, her owner, Mr. H. Cleland, had at the last moment accepted for her in the Stratford Cup and on New Year’s Day she was sent out to take her place in the field. “Hurry On” can remember her trainer, J. Fryer, telling him that though it was her first attempt in open company she would prove equal to the task. “She has done everything I have asked of her this season,” he said, “and done it well.” The writer told three friends from Auckland, two trainers and a well known owner that he ■ was going to back her. They scoffed at • the idea and the writer was politely informed that hacks, however good they might be, do not win cups at the first time of asking. However, the writer was not to be put off and had the pleasure of seeing Bright Glow leave the field., at the distance and win in stylish fashion by two and a-half lengths. Hacks do win cups at first time of asking sometimes.

“Hurry On” did not see her suffer defeat in the Egmont and Taranaki Cups just afterwards, but he was at Trentham when she contested the Thompson Handicap. She and Laughing Prince cannoned into one another at the start and she lost many lengths. Despite this she displayed a wonderful burst of pace and actually reached the front a furlong from home and looked a winner until Joy King, who had been patiently handled by Roy Reed, put in his claim and beat her by a length. Despite this fine performance she went out in the six furlong event on the second day paying a great price. That race is likely to live for a long time in the memories of all who witnessed it. Naturally, being provincially patriotic the writer had told the Press gallery that this mare was the “goods” and had received a little good humoured banter regarding her. The waiter for one of the metropolitan dailies was watching the race and as they came into the straight he strung off all the names and finished up with, “And ‘Hurry On’ your- Bright Glow is last.” A furlong from home the scene began to change. Cimabue was well out in front but right on the outside Snowy Morris on Bright Glow was making his effort, and it was an electrifying one. She buried the others in a few strides and then set -off after Cimabue. Many thought her task hopeless but she got him 100 yards from home and went on to win as she liked by a length and a-half. It was as brilliant a performance as had ever been witnessed at Trentham for many a day and the crowd showed its appreciation. The writer saw her beat all but Paganelli in the Thompson Handicap the following year but did not see her score the greatest triumph of her career when, ridden by Roy Reed, she led the field home in the A.R.C. Easter Handicap at Ellerslie shortly afterwards. There is no doubt that she was a great mare—one of the best—and with her splendid conformation and great constitution she seemed certain to prove a successful stud matron. Her owner, Mr. Cleland, will have the sympathy of all sportsmen in his loss, as of all the horses he has raced none has had the same place in his heart as this fine daughter of Day Comet and Red Dolly. SALE OF HORSES AT RANDWICK. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 11.25 p.m. Sydney, Dec. 18. A sale of racehorses in training was held at Randwick to-day. Questionnaire was passed in at 300 guineas and the New Zealander Jonker was passed in at 90 guineas.