TOOLEY STREET.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20483, 8 December 1934, Page 16

TOOLEY STREET.

How H. Rama’s Horse Got Unusual Name. BREEDING ROMANCE. (By a Contributor). Riccarton recently received a number of newcomers from Auckland—members of the team of 11. Rama, who has taken up residence here. One of ; these horses is named Tooley Street ; and a story lies behind this somewhat unusual example of nomenclature. •Once upon a time the owner of a brood mare stood disconsolate in the private bar of an Auckland hotel. | He was indeed very disconsolate, and | the mare was the cause of his unhappiness. Not that she had done anything but grow old—and that is something for which even blood-stock cannot be blamed. The mare Cantrip was 19 years old and the time had come when the owner’s domestic arrangements precluded, after thirteen years of companionship, further personal care. 1 here seemed nothing else for it but a merciful passing to the Valhalla of courageous equines, where the grass of Peace grows eternally fresh and green. The grieving owner was joined by 7 a representative of a famous English butter-buying firm. Upon hearing of the apparently unavoidable fate of Cantrip the buyer, too, joined in | lamentation. To this mournful duo came three more friends—one, a bloodstock breeder from the far north; one a shipping magnate and one a wellknown studmaster. All in their turn received in that understanding sympathy’- the tale of nineteen-year-old Cantrip’s doom.' A toast was proposed—and silently honoured. After more toasts had been attended to. the breeder desired to know where Cantrip was domiciled, and proposed a visit to her. A car quickly transported the five mourners to Papakura, where in bountiful pgfcture Cantrip idled away her days—fat as butter she looked on that bright day r and full of sweet content. The mourners gazed on her in sorrow and the breeder exclaimed. “ This old mare is not qualifying for Heaven yet awhile.” Turning to the owner he said: “ Now, here’s a proposal. You give the mare to me. I’ll see she gets peaceful grazing and every attention. Our friend here (indicating the shipping man) will transport her to my farm, while you (he turned to the studmaster) will arrange for her to be covered by your horse. If the result of this mating is successful, the foal is to be named after that famous London thoroughfare, Tooley' Street, where the butter merchants do their business. The name is in honour of our butter-buying friend here (he indicated the butter firm’s representative). You (he turned ■ again to the owner) will be happy in the knowledge that your old comrade 1 is ending her day's in usefulness and care, and the agony of ordering her destruction will be removed from your mind.” V\nd so it was agreed. due course, and after all participants in this impromptu pact had fulfilled their part, there was foaled in the north a bav colt now registered with the New Zealand Racing Conference and entered in the stud-book as Tooley’ Street (Surveyor—Cantrip). At Mr Harry Rama’s racing stable at Riccarton recently, Tooley Street was enthusiastically welcomed and inspected by’ the erstwhile owner of his dam.

Cantrip was previously owned by Mr W. R. Kemball in the day's when Gladful, Hymestra and company were making history'. She was not raced much owing to leg trouble. In her ripe old age. Cantrip still knows the jov of full feed boxes, the solace of careful attention and the companionship of kindlv human folk. WESTLAND RACING CLUB. At a meeting of the Westland Racing Club committee last evening, those present were: Messrs J. J. M’lntosh (president), F. M’Gregor, A. W. Yarrall. J. J. Breeze, M. Houston and D. J. Evans. Notification of the restoration of the one-fifth deduction by' clubs from totalisator taxation for one vear from April 1 next was received from the Racing Conference. The offer of Mr J. W. Thompson. East Oxford, to present a silver mounted jockey' whip to the winner of the cup at the jubilee meeting was accepted with thanks. It was decided to adopt again the two-dividend system for the totalisator. A new Press room has been erected at the Hokitika course, where extra accommodation would facilitate the work of the officials. ABOUT STITCH. Stitch, winner of the St Andrew’s Handicapp at Feilding last Saturday, had not previously won over a middle distance. He met weak opposition at Feilding. Stitch is now owned in Gisborne by Mr W. G. Bignell. who acquired him from Mr 11. C. Bignell, of Tokomaru, last March and transferred him from the Gisborne stable where he had previously' been quartered to W. M’Kinnon’s charge at Greenmeadows. fie registered his first win in his present colours in the sprint at Napier Park in September, and Saturwas his next success. He was a useful performer on East Coast circuits, and to date he has won fourteen of the sixty-nine races in which he has started, earning in all £IOSB 10s in stakes. His best season so far was as a four-year-old, when he won six races and £365 in stakes. His earnings this term amount to £175. Stitch was bred on the East Coast for Mr W Dutton, of Waikato. Now a six-year-old geldjing, he is by’ Threadneedle (a son of the Autumnus horse Autumn, and sire 'also of Aiguille), from the San Fran—- | Black Ella mare Te Puia, who descends | through the Cascade—Waterwitch branch of Mermaid’s notable family. Te Puia won several good handicaps for R. Brough. Her initial offspring was Kohu. who made good as a jumper, scoring a surprise victory' in the 1923 Great Northern Hurdle Race, and two other of her offspring who have been winners were Atumlad and Whakaari, both by Autumn. Stitch is the last lof her progeny, as the Stud Book states | that she was then “pensioned off”