THE GREAT NORTHERN STEEPLECHASE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XII, Issue XXV, 23 June 1894, Page 582

THE GREAT NORTHERN STEEPLECHASE.

(11th JUNE, 1894.) ' W ell, what’s going to win the steeple V • I guess it’s an open race.’ Such was the only topic heard Before the Northern Chase. ‘ I’ll ask Jack Williamson what he thinks Is best for ue to back,’ ‘ Why, Despised will win, bar accidents, And Salute comes next,’ says Jack. What's that upstanding young bay horse That Dinnie Morrigan rides ’ By Jove 1 he moves along the course With fast and rapid strides. That’s Bombardier at the North Shore trained, And I think he’ll get a place. And there’s that old black horse Scaltheen, But he can’t go the pace. Bombardier’s knees like footballs blown, I fancy he will fall, For he is bound to bang himself On every fence and wall. Fishmonger’s looking very fit, And so is Cingalee, Both Potentate and Crazy Kate Are lively as can be. The flag goes down and off they go Bjth double hurdles fly, Salute and Fishmonger take the lead With other good ones nigh. Around the course and up the hill ’Cross post and rails they came, Both stone and mud walls they clear well And the water jump the same. The second sod wall and water jump Are cleared in splendid style, ( And yet the pace is none too-slow Although they’ve gone a mile. The second round is safely past. When Salute he stops to think Why he the water jump should pass Without a drop to drink. The struggle now will soon commence, There’ll be some spills I fear, The horses all are tiring fast Except this Bombardier. Despised’s all out and nearly done, Though Shaw is grafting still To rouse the one-eyed bay along, As they surmount the hill. McKinnon now to gain a bit, Goes for the inside rail. Despised and Fishy both come down And the others past them sail. Alick Williams, now on Crazy Kate, Comes rushing down the hill, But Morrigan on Bombardier, Is sitting very still. • Bombardier wins ?’ ‘ No, Crazy Kate V Is yelled by backers load, ‘Bombardier wins, bar accidents,’ Is shouted by the crowd. And as they race around the bend Both jocks ply whip and steel, But Bombardier the faster proves As to the end they speel. Just here, the excitement getting wild, As homeward bound they run ; But very soon the betting crowd Knew Crazy Kate was done. A nd then again the cry goes np, As Bomb bis last jumo takes, ‘ He’ll come down, I’ll bet a pound,’ ‘ Not he ; he’s won the race.’ And so the shouting grew in power Till almost on the jump, Then suddenly dead silence reigns, And many a heart did thump. See Dicky Duder on the conrse. •He nearly faints with joy, As Morrigan takes a good strong pull Then yells out, • Over, boy.’ ‘ He’s over then,’ the cry goes up, Bombardier walks in. What did I say f What tip gave I ? I always thought he’d win.’ The dividend was five pounds two. ft made the Shore boys glad. And many a round of Walker’s best The lucky backers bad. A very pop’lar win it was. The Burkes deserve to win. They’re real good sports—l like their luck Although I lost my tin.

J. W. Maguire.