RODE IN FIRST NATIONAL

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19663, 24 August 1935, Page 19 (Supplement)

RODE IN FIRST NATIONAL

A VETERAN’S IMPRESSIONS. AGENT WAS A GOOD ONE. OTHER FINE JUMPERS. The first New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase was run at Riocarton in 1876—Just 59 years ago. Living in retirement at the top of Big Jim’s ‘Hill, Waltara, •writes the Taranaki scribe “Hurry On," 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 33 years since he gave up riding to take up farming In Taranaki, but some of bis memories of the old days are very interesting. “I can well remember that first Grand National,” 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 and I was in front from the start to about two furlongs from home, where Royalty challenged and beat me home. Royalty was ridden by a gentleman jockey, Mr Martelll, Tlrnaru, and a very fine rider he was.” , , Lyford was riding light in those days and he is of the opinion that had ho been stronger and more able to steady Mousetrap in the early stages he would have beaten Royalty. In those davs there was a big water jump in the middle of the course. It was 15 feet wide with a solid fence in front of it, and 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 rig, said Mr Lyford, “a jump of that length was a good effort for a man in those days.” The Most Diffloult Fence.

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 Lyford thought the fences in his time were higher than.those of to-day. He did not have the mount on Mousetrap when that horse won in 1878, and he had to wait until 1884 for his first, winner. That year his mount Agent lumped 12.6 to victory. Tills was Agent’s third victory, and bis record of three wins still stands. Ho was ridden by a different rider on each occasion. \V. Hankins in 1879, 11. T.unn in 1880 and Lyford in 1884. The race in 1879 was not run at. >Ric,carton hut at Oamaru. “It was a real cross country event,” said Mr Lyford, who rode in I lie race. "Wo had lo 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 bottom. Agent, however. was a great jumper and handled the course without any trouble.” The veteran rider has a good opinion of Agent who, he says, was a won<s9rful jumper. He could sight his fences well and 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 Ids ability when necessary to put in a short step when coming to a fence in order to he in position tor the. take-off. Mr Lyford’s second success came three years later when that due ’chaser Faugh-a-Ballairh won. hut lie is firmly convinced that that horse should have beaten Canard the previous year. The pair met at Dunedin shortly afterwards and Faiigh-a-Rnllagh heal, his rival very easily. Fnngh-a-Rnllagh lie considered Die surest-footed horse he over 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. Ricearton when Fauah-.a-Ballnirli jumped across, (lion slewed round and finished faring the fence. "T only iust, managed to stick on.” Me Lyford said, “hut the horse, never felt as I hough lie would fall. He was as clever on his feet as a eat.” '.Mr byford’s third win in the Grand National was scored on Daddy Long•jezs in 1890. and besides his seconds on Mousetrap and l'auah-a-Bnllaigh, he was on a placo-i horse on three oilier occasions.

Trip to Australia. f As a youngster Mr Lyford made the ; trip to Australia with Mr Redw'ood, ■ 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 j Calumny were a pair of great horses. After they had been sold they carried j 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 Lyttelton 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 considered the riders of to-day 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 riding so short. Take the Incident of Faugh-a-Ballagh at Riccarton; I could never have had a ghost . of a show of keeping my seat." •