THE FIRST STEEPLECHASE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23376, 6 December 1945, Page 7

THE FIRST STEEPLECHASE

Pioneer Racing Stable Prime Warden And Lady Zetland (Specially Written for “The Timaru Herald”) By “OLD SPORT” It has long been accepted that South Canterbury’s pioneer cross-country race was the first Saltwater Creek Steeplechase, held in 1866. This theory is supported by the Jubilee History. By rare good fortune, the writer happened upon information concerning an earlier ’chase, run, in February, 1875 (following a two-day race meeting at Washdyke), which can safely be accepted as authentic. The course, consisting of cultivated ground and pasture land, extended over about three miles, and included about 18 jumps. The starting point was on the north-west of the town, near Mr Driller’s boundary. It ran through York Town, across Gibson’s sod wall (a rasper), then west to Irish Town and up to Double’s Paddock. Turning' round a flag, the field ran through a small gully and into Scarf’s garden, skirted Captain Cain’s house, covered Stubbs’s paddock, and jumped in and out of the Government enclosure to finish-near the Commercial Hotel. The race was won by Mr Evans’s (Christchurch) horse Red Rover, from Mr Thompson’s Camel. Spectators viewed the race from the tops of hay and corn stacks and the roofs of houses, and considerable enthusiasm was manifest. Y’ork Town laj' at the southern end of the present extended York Street. Gibson’s property was situated at the top of Arthur Street, and Irish Town west of LeCren Street. Cain’s and Stubbs’s paddocks were south of North Street, and the Government paddock was on Browne Street, at the old Immigration Barracks. First in South Island? The first) Saltwater’ Creek Steeplechase was preceded by a week or two by one at Christchurch on May 24, 1866, advertised as the first of a series of annual races. It has been suggested l hi t this was the earliest country race in the South Island. Any claim it may have possessed to that distinction must now be yielded to the Timaru Steeplechase of February, 1865. PIONEER Stable—lopt The victories of Golden Souvenir have enhanced the reputation of the family of Miss Kate, the ancestress of Phar Lap and Kindergarten, as well as many other fine performers. Miss Kate had nearly 20 foals, including Antelope (from whom Kindergarten descends), and Catherine Wheel (great granddam of Phai’ Lap). On the track the most successful was Prime Warden, once familiar in the streets of Timaru. The Moody Period The biggest and most successful team in South Canterbury in early days was that run by the Hobbs brothers. They commenced racing at the beginning of the eighties and •in 1885 captured the Grand National Steeplechase With the Marmion gelding Moody, racing in the name of M. and C. Hobbs (who trained him) and ridden by Campbell Hobbs.

At the outset many of the horses were often nominated by F. Hobbs, but during a two-day meeting at Waimate at New Year, 1887, Jack, Melville. Tongariro and Moody were transferred to Murray and Campbell Hobbs, who in the back end of the same season raced Effigy, Porderman, Milo, Jackall and Red Robin as well.

Moody continued to be the sheetanchpr of the stable. A fine hurdler, he supplemented his earnings over jumps by competing in Cups at country meetings. At a Geraldine Steeplechase meeting he won a Jumpers’ Flat (3 miles) with 12.3. Many of the other Hobbs horses were versatile, Borderman and Effigy in particular winning both on the flat and over obstacles. Riders associated with the stable at this period were R. Dunn, C. Jackson, F. and C Cochrane, W. Hobbs and W. B’iddicomb. An unusual incident is recorded In connection with one of Moody's wins at Washdyke. It was customary at the time for horses in a hurdle race to make a “trial” jump of a hurdle in the straight in its preliminary. Moody, generally a safe conveyance, fell, and his rider C. Hobbs had a leg broken. Another jockey. T. Nicholls, Was weighed out and won the race. Lucky Leases In 1890-91 the Hobbs team was not such a big one. It included the durable grey College Boy, a winner in both departments, Count d’Orsay, and the 10-year-old Quibble (purchased from Mr Mat Sherwin, of Waimate), who paid his way handsomely. More important were two three-year-olds leased from Mr E. Gates—Prime Warden (Aprement—Miss Kate) and Lady Zetland (Perkin Warbeck ll—Forget-me-not). These horses were destined to achieve lasting fame. Prime Warden commenced by winning the Geraldine Cup. Lady Zetland’s first success was gained in a district race at Ashburton; shortly afterwards she collected the principal double at Waimate. Other h rses then in the stable included Mr E Timaru Rhodes's Morpheus (a Jcckey Club Handicap winner at Riccarton). Hobbs brothers laid out a training track at Saltwater Creek, and gave their horses plenty of salt-water treatment at Caroline Bay.

Relatives of Lady Zetland handled by Hobbs brothers were Lord Zetland and Marquis of Zetland, both winners but nowhere near the class of their illustrious sister. Prime Warden, who became savage in later years, lasted a long time and did a lot of racing over middle distances. He won the Canterbury Cup and Great Autumn, as well as a long list of lesser events. After Hobbs brothers surrendered their lease he was raced by Wynn-Williams brothers, and terminated his career in Southland. Lady Zetland was another of the hardy type and raced for seven seasons. She won the Great F.aster-Auckland double (a feat emulated by her daughter Lady Lillian) and ended a remarkable career at nine years of age by winning the New Zealand Cup with 8.9 (a record) and by defeating Euroclydon in the Canterbury Cup. In the previous season, Euroclydon had won Riccarton’s triple crown—N.Z. Cup, Derby and Canterbury Cup. Put the stud at an advanced age after a strenuous career on the tracks. Lady Zetland established one of New Zealand’s most successful families. Her descendants included Lady Lillian (winner of 24 races), Minerva! (Auckland Cup), Royal Star (N.Z Cup). Thermidor (13 races), Studley Roval (Dunedin Cup), Sleeveless (8 races), Thestius (10 races), Lady Leigh (9 races), Knight Commander (8 races), Miss Minerva <8 races), Winkie's Best (6 races), Royal Wink (6 races), Frisco Mail and a host of others. Incident at Washdyke Another good performer raced by M. Hobbs on lease from Mr E. Gates was the English horse Benzoin, who won the Stewards and many other races. One race in which Benzoin finished first was the South Canterbury Jockey Club Handicap, but he was disqualified on the ground of an alleged cross of the second horse Tsaritza. Benzoin s lessee took such umbrage at the decision that he did not race at Washdyke for some years. To-day the practice in such a. case is to reverse the placings; in earlier times the English rule was followed. A Dark Horse A year before Lady Zetland won the New Zealand Cup, M. Hobbs just failed to pull off the big race with a dark horse—Chaos, a gelding by Total Eclipse which was purchased from Mr H A Knight. Chaos commenced by winning a double on the opening day at Washdyke with such ease that he had only one opponent to beat on the second day. Only £lO was invested on this race. Chaos completed another double at Orari—the Cun with 9.13. Racing Club Handicap with 10 9. and was rehandicapped 31b in the Cup. He was beaten bj’ the star three-year-old Euroclydon, who was runner-up next season to Lady Zetland. Other horses prepared by Hobbs brothers in the nineties included Saracen, who won Mr Richard Allen a Great Easter and a Timaru Cup. A year before Lady Zetland reached the topmost heights, the Hoobs brothers had moved to Ashburton and soon

afterwards to Riccarton, where Murray Hobbs established himself at the Racecourse Hotel and became known as one of the Dominion's leading trainers. During the period in which Hobbs brothers were associated in Timaru tney specialised in hurdles, but after Campbell Hobbs propped out of the partnership his brother confined his activities almost solely to flat racing. Among the winners prepared at Riccarton by M. Hobbs was the Finland gelding Reval. Trained at Washdyke by S. Trilford for Messrs E. H. Reid and A. S. Elworthy, Reval won many races from six furlongs to a mile and a quarter, and earned a reputation for brilliancy out of the barrier. Before his Greast Easter win, he had been sold to Mr C. Studholme and went so to Hobbs’ stable. Brilliant but Erractic A close relative of Lady Zetland’s, Dundas, provided M. Hobbs with mingled pleasure and pain. Dundas won the Middle Park Plate and the Dunedin Champagne and the Great Autumn. A brilliant galloper, he disappointed his trainer on many occasions. When he was six, L. H. Hewitt “sloaned” him in a Midsummer Handicap and he cleared out from the field. He repeated the performance in the Dunedin Cup. When Dundas died it was discovered that his heart was affected. Gay Lad One of Hobbs’ principal worries was, the care of Gay Lad. The owner of the English horse insisted that he should be treated with a full measure of kindness. Prior to the New Zealand Cup the trainer brought Gay Lad to Orari to give him a winding-up gallop in the Geraldine Cup, but after inspecting the course, Mr Grigg scratched the horse. Gay Lad failed to see out the two miles at Riccarton, and many sensational stories were current concerning his riding. The jockey, it was alleged, was required to submit his bank book for examination. Kilboy and Sasanof One of M. Hobbs’s Riccarton patrons was Mr J. B. Reid, of Ellerslie, and this association led up to a Melbourne Cup win. Kilboy, who annexed the Challenge Stakes, was taken to Sydney for the A.J.C. Derby. Prior to the race in Hobbs’s care. Messrs Stead and E. S. Luttrell for £6OOO but remained in Hobbs’ care. Messrs Stead and Luttrell had Sasanof at Randwick at the time, and suddenly transferred this three-year-old from F. T. Qulnlivan to Hobbs. Kilboy won the Derby, and then with Sasanov and Reval went on to Flemington. In a gallop Kilboy ran away from the brilliant Reval and he was reckoned a certainty for the Cup and Derby. Unfortunately he went amiss, and Hobbs was instructed to go for the Cup with Sasanov. Luck changed, Sanasof had been sore and would have been unable to start in the Cup had not floods necessitated a postponement. When the Cup was run Sasanof won easily. On his return to New Zealand Sasanof went back to Hawke’s Bay and was afterwards trained by G. Jones. Kilboy was patched up at the end of the season to’ win the Great Autumn with 8.10.