FIFTY-NINE YEARS AGO

Taranaki Daily News, 16 August 1935, Page 9

FIFTY-NINE YEARS AGO

FIRST GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLES VETERAN JOCKEY’S RECOLLECTIONS • • MR. T. LYFORD RECALLS INCIDENTS (By ‘‘Hurry On.”) 'J’.HE first New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase was run at ‘ Riccarton in 1876—just 59 years ago. Living in retirement at the top of Big Jim’s Hill, Waitara, is Mr. Thomas Lyford, who rode the second horse, Mousetrap, in that event. To be able to say, “I rode in the Grand National 59 years ago,” is remarkable, but Mr. Lyford can say that, and what is more, he can recollect vividly the events of that day. It is 35 years since he gave up riding to take up farming in Taranaki, but some of his memories of the old days are yery interesting.

“I can well remember that first Grand Rational,” Mr. Lyford said. “It was a frightful day; raining hard with a very sodden track. I rode Mousetrap, a splendid jumper but a tearaway brute. The race was run over four miles then ind I was in front from the start to ibout two furlongs from home, where loyalty challenged and beat me home, loyalty was ridden by a gentleman ockey, Mr. Martelli, Timaru, and a rery fine rider he was.” * * * * Lyford was riding light in those days nd he is of the opinion that had he >een stronger and more able to steady 'dousetrap in the early stages he would lave beaten Royalty. In those days here was a big water jump in the 1 niddle of the course. It was 15 feet vide with a solid fence in front of it, md to clear it a horse had to leap at least 28 to 30 feet. Mousetrap’s leap that 'day was measured; it was 37 feet! “I once saw an amateur rider, Mr. Rutherford, jump over it in ■ his full riding jrig,” said Mr. Lyford, “ a jump of that length was a good effort for a man in those days.” Even in those far off days the .fence known as Cutts’ was always considered the most difficult. It was a solid one about 4 feet 9 inches high, but it was on such an awkward angle _ that it brought many a horse to grief. Mr. J_.yf ord thought the fences in his time V.ere higher than (those of. to-day. f • * . # . * * He did not have the mount on Mousetrap when that horse won in. 1878,, and lie had to wait until 1884 for his -first Winner. That year. his. mount Agent lumped 12.6 to victory. This was Agent’s third victory, and his record 'of three wins still stands. He was ridden by a different rider on each occasion, W. Hankins in 1879, H. Lunn in 1880 and Lyford in 1884. The race in 1879 was not run at Riccarton but at Oamaru. “It Was a real-cross country event,” said Mr. Lyford, who rode in the race. “We had to go over ploughed paddocks and even creeks. One jump I remember Was over .a hedge with a creek close to the other side. The horses landed on the down slope and some slid almost to. the cottom. Agent, however, was a great Jumper and handled the course without >ny trouble.” The veteran rider has a good opinion tof Agent who, he. says, was a wonderful jumper! Tile could sight his fences well Bnd always took off about ten feet away.

Another asset he had, and one that Mr. Lyford considered almost the hallmark of a really great ’chaser, was his ability when necessary to put in a short step when coming to a fence in order to be in position for the take-off. Mr. Lyford’s second success came three years later when that fine ’chaser Faugh-a-Ballagh won, but he is firmly convinced that that horse should have beaten Canard th® previous year. The pair met at Dunedin shortly afterwards and Faugh-a-Ballagh beat his rival very easily. Faugh-a-Ballagh he considered the surest-footed horse he ever rode. He said he never fell and never looked like falling, though it was hard to stay on him at times. He instanced one incident at the stand double at Riccarton when Faugh-a-Ballagh -jumped across, then slewed round and finished facing the fence. “I only just managed to stick on,” Mr. Lyford said, “but the horse never felt as though he would fall. He was as clever on his feet as a cat.” #, * #' Mr. Lyford’s third win in the Grand National was scored on Daddy Longlegs in 1890, and besides his seconds on Mousetrap and Faugh-a-Ballagh, he was on a placed horse on three other occasions. i As- a youngster Mr. Lyford made the trip to Australia with Mr. Redwood, who took Lurline, Calumny and Papapa across the Tasman ; away back ■. in 1874. The late R. J. Mason made ’his first of many' trips on that occasion and rode Lurline in the Melbourne Cup, where that horse finished fourth. Lurline and Calumny were a pair of great horses. After they had • been sold they carried off the 'big Victorian autumn .double in 1875, Calumny winning, the, Newmarket Handicap and Lurline the Australian Cup. ■ ' “That was a great trip,” Mr. Lyford said. “I can remember setting off from Lyttle ton, and the'ship standing in the roadstead first at Nelson and then at Hokitika before setting off for Australia. There were not many comforts about that trip.” Though not a believer in long stirrups Mr. Lyford considers the riders of today are riding too short. “They come off, far too easily at. present,” he said. “I know I could not have stayed on on many occasions, had I been ridjng, so short. Take that incident of Faugh-a-Ballagh at Riccarton; I could never have had a ghost of a show of keeping my seat.”