A LUCKY TURFITE.

Observer, Volume 2, Issue 29, 2 April 1881, Page 308

A LUCKY TURFITE.

Queen Mary, the peerless brood mareBlink Bonny and her career— Blair Athol — Caller Ou — Broomielaw — I Breadalbane, Mr W. I' Anson, whose death at an advanced age is recorded in the mail news, must be looked upon as one of the most fortunate men that ever trod the Turf. One day he was lucky enough to pick up for an old song a brood mare, and from that moment he never looked back. This brood mare (Queen Mary was her name) was the dam of the peerless Blink Bonny. Blink Bonny was a brilliant two-year-old, and after winning at Beverley Lord Londesborough ottered 3000 guineas for her. This was accepted, with the proviso that she should be left at Malton ; but his Lordship not agreeing with this, the price was raised to 4000 guineas, and the negotiations fell through. Subsequently Mr I' Anson refused Mr Jackson's offer of 5000 guineas for the mare. For over fifty years no filly had won the Derby, and the fact of her doing so caused her to become a great public favourite. She was dead amiss when she started from Malton to run in the Derby, but improved so rapidty that she was probably 71b. better when she cantered in for the Oaks than she was when she beat Drinkaid's outsider for the Derby. As a brood mare she was as brilliant as she was a racer. The public took very kindly to her son, Blair Athol, simpiy because he was her son, and it was a grand day for the B.P. when this son won the Derby. By the success of this grand horse the stable and its followers Avon next to nothing ; and Jackson actually lost money when he won the St. Leger. As a matter of fact, it was not intended to start him for the Derby ; but Jackson spoilt the business one night at the White Hart, and as beautiful a scheme as ever was planned was ruined. It was on the night of the Two Thousand General Peel had won. Jackson, Steel, and party had thrown in for a great stake, and they were well "on " for the Derby. The plan was that General Peel should win the Derby, for which Blair Athol, who was a public horse, should not run. General Peel, having Avon the Two Thousand and Derby, would be a tremendous favourite for the St. Leger, and Blair Athol, having declined the Derby, a rank outsider. General Peel Avas to be laid against on every opportunity, and at the last moment the trump card produced in Blair Athol. It Avas a sweet .scheme, and but for Jackson's love of conviviality would have been brought off. I' Anson made little or nothing by betting. On Caller Ou's St. Leger lie took merely tbe stakes. Previous to that Balrownie, Blooming Heather, and Bonnie Scotland had Avon him £6000, and BalroAvnie he sold to Mr PadAvick for £2000. Bonnie Scotland, avlio had gained a place in the St. Leger, Avas secured by the Americans, and the lior.se became the greatest success of any sire in that country. After the Derby victory of Blair Athol the mind of the public became imbued Avith the idea that if you wanted a Derby Avinner, all that you had to do Avas to buy something that boasted of the blood of Queen Mary. In those days, however, comparatively recent as they are, avc were not accustomed to the prices that are now demanded for a crack, and it Avas something more than a nine days' wonder Avlien Mr Chaplin gave 11,000 guineas for Breadalbane and BroomielaAV. High as was this figure, the horses Avere Avell Avorth the money, as proved by what they subsequently realised. There was a remarkable amount of mystery observed with regard to these animals, and when they were tried the present junior steward of the English Jockey Club, avlio had the management of the business, stole on to the Moor like a thief in the night. It Avas thought by Mr Chaplin that the Derby Avas lost by Breadalbane owing to fonl play, and detectives were employed to unravel the mystery. It now occurs to most people that there Avas not much mystery in a fair second-class horse having been beaten by the mighty Gladiateur. He Avas just the horse to do it. After Blair Athol Aye did not see much of Mr I'Anson's ' ' green, straw belt and cap," on the Turf, and he finally quitted the "post" for the "paddock."

— An article by "Old Turfite" on the coming races at Christchurch, will appear in next issue. — £10,950 was the amount of prizes given at tlie late Victorian Kn.ce Club meeting-. — Grand Flaneur's winnings in stakes are a trifle under £10,000. — Over £4000 passed through the totalisators at Wangaimi. — The Southern " talent " will not patronise Pannitire again in a hurry. — The relative of Royalty was at Panmure, and assisted to " stiffen " Golden Crown by laying 2 to 1 on him. — What took Drake and Belcher out to Panmure so early on Saturday F — Mr. Long, the owner of Grand Flaneur, took £1000 to £100 and £800 to £100 about his colt for tne Sydney Cup on the Ist. instant. —The ' ' Leviathan " of the Melbourne Ring danced a fandango alter the result of the Australian Cup. He had only laid £700 against First Water. —At the Melbourne TattersalTs on Saturday fortnight, Tom Brown wanted to back Grand Flaneur for a level thousand against any other horse in the Sydney Cup. — The betting on the first two events at Panmure was remarkably good, and it would doubtless have remained so but for the Golden Crown /iasco. After that speculation was paralysed. —Mr. Hopkins has purchased N or M from Capt. Eye for £80. The horse is entered for the Steeplechase at the Autumn Meeting, and has been backed for small sums at long shots. A genuine offer of £400 was made for Dauphin, Mr. Redwood's two-year-old, after the Wanganui races, by a few leading local sportsmen, but that amount was not considered sufficient for the Sapling winner.

—According to the Liberty Mr. Dick Clarke, the great adept at " pitch and toss," has disappeared from the New Zealand ring for good, Dick found it a poor game peppering favorites this season, and has departed for fresh fields. —Concerning the Napier Handicap of the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club meeting, we (Daily Telegraph) may state that the time in which it was run was the fastest on record in New Zealand. The distance was one and a-half miles, and the time was 3 minutes and 9£ seconds. The Victorian St. Ledger, only 132 yards longer course, weight for age race, was run in 3 minutes 16 seconds, the fastest time on record in Australia. — The time in which the Leger was run (says the Australasian.) on the first day of tho V.X.C. Meeting, favourable as the course was for quick time, shows of what calibre the two competitors are, and there can be little doubt that oven .Robert the Devil or Bend Or would have their work to do to stretch the Flaneur's neck. It was indeed worth a journey of a thousand miles to see such horses as Progress and Flaneur. — After the Wanganui races the metalicians opened books on the local Derby of 1883, and a large amount of business was done. Sweet Home, the daughter of Coerulius and Sissie, Mr. W. Wilson's imported mare, was backed to win £1200, and Mr. Jackson's Painter-Policy yearling was supported to win a like amount. About a dozen others found backers, Major Morse's three Painter fillies being amongst the number. Mr. Eedwood has two nominations, but it hasn't transpired whether any money was booked about them. — The latest excitement at Te Aroha is the success of Mr. W. J. Allen's horse Cetewayo. He ran very well both at Tauranga and Katikati, but at Te Aroha he has run five matches against the best thoroughbreds, winning each time. The owner and his friends must have landed a considerable pot of money, having backed Cetewayo straight for each event. Mr. Allan was offered and refused £35 for Cetewayo before tho Piako races, and could now get double that amount for him. — Lyons has refused to pay the bets won by the southern talent over Golden Crown. At first these gentry threatened to bring the affair before Tattersall's, but reflection convinced them it wouldn't be quite judicious. They have, therefore, contented themselves with threatening to " make it very hot for Bill" next time they corue ap. If I were Lyons I should make it very hot for them. Let him l'.iy the case before the A.X.0., and request that the culprits be warned off Ellerslie course for ever. — Jack Harris, the bookmaker, has been writing to the Napier Daily Telegraph in defence of betting. It appears that on the Sunday following the Hawke's Bay Kace meeting, a Key. Mr. Ho veil preached against bookmakers, professional gamblers and amateur bettors, asserting amongst other things, that betting did not enrich the country. In answer to this, Jack.says : — " Allow me to differ from such an idea. Do away with betting, do away with all chance of winning money by wagering on the events of a race meeting, and there would very soon would be no racing at all. For stakes such as alone can be given in this colony it would not pay to breed or run race horses. I have heard it asserted that it does not even pay to run a horse straight. So it would seem that those who bet, by laying the odds, or by taking them, are the real supporters of the turf. It stands to reason that in all gambling transactions somebody must win if another loses, and I do not think the winner ia to be congratulated any more than the loser should be commiserated. Human nature will have to alter very considerably before mankind will cease to love a wager upon an uncertain event. Will it surprise Mr. Hovell to learn that from a wordly point of view the church sanctions and almost sanctifies gambling by her own conduct ? Are not churces built in all directions on and "oil' chance" of their being paid for by hook or by crook ! Is not nearly every church in the colony hopelessly in debt through ' ' over laying its book ? The gambling man has to meet his liabilities, but as there is no ecclesiastical Tattcrsalls where a defaulting church can be posted, the most reckless gambling — for it is nothing less — goes on, upon no other principle than i£ the church debt is paid well and good, and if it is not then no one will be so wicked as to put a bailiff in the pulpit. — I am, &c, J. G. Harms.

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