The Bronzewing Coup

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIV, Issue 17, 29 April 1905, Page 6

The Bronzewing Coup

By

"V"

Illustrated by

Patil Hardy

SI. M KER EDWARDS was not bet ting on the Southshire National Hunt Selling, and had gone down to the eommeneemeni of the rails to watch the running. Here he saw something that made him belie his usually well-deserved sobriquet and return to the paddock at top speed. Kinding his pul and colleague, Harcourt Maggs. had tinished third on his 20 to 1 >offered) mount, the ancient Kit awake, Edwards immediately impressed him with the advisability of claiming the ouuse of his haste —a goodlooking bay named Bronzewing, trained by Jack Newman, of Winchester. The claim was made, much to the latter s disgust, and Maggs. having chans ed, met the Slacker in the paddock. Now Edwards had the reputation of being decidedly chaleureux. and Maggs. as his pupil, was getting on that wax too; but was generally content to follow his mentor's lead. "What do vou know now!" asked Maggs. "Know. eh?” replied Edwards. ’Why. this Bronzewing’s the Naptha colt, that's what. Won four times out of six as a three year-old in Ireland, and qua lined for NH. Fiat Races at Baldoyle. First time out in England. Good enougl to win us a nice little stake if we car keep the Newman division from interfering, eh?” Maggs assented, and Bronzewing wa> accordingly sent to join Webster’s string on Benda 11 Downs, and nothing more was heard of him for some time beyond his being entered for a couple of over night races, for which he was not pulled out. « A fortnight later a paragraph appear ed in the sporting dailies to rhe effect that Bronzewing had been sold privately to Count Valori, an Italian sportsman, who owned a horse, named Wild Jack, trained by Webster, and whose great ambition was to ride a winner before returning to his native land. There is little chance that those wh«» were present at Wye on the occasion of the Count’s debut on the English Turf would forget it. His appearance in the saddle was certainly striking. He had long black hair, unkempt whisk ers. and a fiercely-pointed moustache: while his chin had apparently teen left unshaved for two or three days. He was further disfigured by a long ted sear across his nose and cheek—the out come of a duel, it was understood to be. His breeches were as ill-fitting as they well could be: his colours were peagreen. red and white hooped sleeves, and orange cap with a long pea-green tassel. which fluttered aimlessly in the strong breeze that was blowing. As for his riding—well, he was every where on the horse but where he wanted to be: but somehow he remained on ’he animal’s back, and finished—not first, nor even anywhere near the last but one; but he finished—blown and beat. Certainly the poor man laboured under difficulties; Wild Jack was not a **boy’s horse”: while, in addition, the Count knew hardly any English, and seemed at a loss to understand the remarks made to him at the startingpost. Now. if Wild Jack was not an easv hor-e for rhe Count to ride, neither was Bronzewing: so when he started for the NH. Flat Rare at the Norton Hunt Meeting, and it was found the owner was up, no <»ne seriously expected he’d win. N«*r did he. He made all the running, but ran wide at rhe turn for home, and eventually finished last, alongside oil ?capegra<e. who. for about the tenth Lime in his career, had broken down.

Before the five-year-old’s next appearance it was noised abroad that the Count had been diligently riding gallopat Webster’s, under the supervision of that expert gentleman rider. Captain Bob Dixey, who rode Bronzewing occasionally himself and formed a very higa opinion indeed of the horse’s galloping capacity. But what troubled the Webster party was this. that, in spite of all their endeavours, the Count did not improve in bis riding to any appreciable extent, so that it would be practicallv throwing money away to back bis mount: while, even if he could be per-

suaded to stand down, the appearance of Dixey. or even of Maggs. in the saddle. would rush Bron rowing to a very short price. Finally, it was determined to start him for the Suffolk and Berks Plate at the National Hunt's Meeting at Westbury Park: this race being set last on the second day. Dixey had won the big event on the first day on Mr. Percival’s Beetroot, but declined the offer to ride the same owner’s Parmesan, a champion in these contests. in the Suffolk and Berkshire, pleading business in town as his excuse.

Accordingly, the mount was offered to and accepted by a young gentleman commonly known as Ginger Vyse, a rider of considerable ability, though hardly enjoying the reputation accredited to Caesar’s wife. TEere were nine runners, and a really representatiye Ring, who, having had a capital meeting, were ready to give punters every opportunity in the gettinghome stakes. "Eleven to ten the field, five’s Scullcap. six Criten. and ten’s Sentry-go.” shouted Bill West, ‘•Well, here’s 20 ponies Bronzewing—who wants it?” he inquired, as the word “Owner” was placed in the frame alongside Bronzewing’s number. There was a regular rush to back Parmesan. the favourite nor were Scull-cap and Criten neglected, but no one responded to the odds offered against the Count’s mount. "A hundred to three Bronzewing.' cried West, at last, when up strolled Slacker Edwards. “Five hundred to fifteen?” he inquired. M est looked at him and then at the number-board. Yes. it was Owner. “I ll lay it. sir.” he replied. Edwards nodded and sauntered on. “What price Bronze wing?” he inquired of Ike Aarons. ’’Twenties. Mr. E.,“ replied Ike. "No good.” * Twenty-fives, then. Five hundred to t wen tv ?”

The Slacker booked it. and passed on along the rails, picking up all the 25’s. and, finally. 100 to B’s, that were going Meanwhile Hareourt Maggs was working the centre of the Ring' and had taken £3OO to £9. and some other nice bets. v The horses were now at the post all except Bronzewing. At length the Count appeared, keeping his seat with difficult-,-, as the horse was fidgety. The Ring set up a derisive cheer, which had the effect of making Bronzewing dance about more than ever. He then refused to proceed further, till Webster came out and led him to the post. Jim James, who had not laid Bronze win yet. hereupon called out. “Two hundred to ten. the Count,” and immediately found a customer in Maggs. The bookies were puzzled at the wav Edwards- ana Maggs kept backing Bronzewing, and. now that some of the Newman division were trying to follow suit, offered no more than' tens and not much of that. “They’re off!” The Count leads, and at such a pace, that there is soon a long tail—-but what’s he at? He’s got his whip going already’” Blow the idiot!” yells a punter from the course, who has’ 20 dollars Bronzewing. “Next time round, you ain’t com ing ’ome vet.”

This apparently reaches the Count’s ears, as wuth a frantic effort he readjusts himself in the saddle, and keeps his whip fairly still. On the far side his lead increases-— why the deuce doesn’t Ginger Vvse send Parmesan along? They’ll never cateh him. Ah! here comes Parmesan—now it’s all over. Is it though? Bronzewing is running straight as an arrow, going well. Sit still, you fool!” roars Edwards, as the Count once more starts flourishing his whip wildly. On comes Parmesan—but he has still a good five lengths disadvantage. Will he ii * No. he falters. Gineer Vvse is riding hard. It’s no good: he drops his hands, and Bronzewing canters in the easiest of winners. Luckily, it’s the last raee. as there

is a bit of hooting owing to Ginger’s tac tics with the favourite, but the majority. being in a hurry to catch the special, there is a general rush for cabs, and an "unphasant incident” is avoid ed Just as the train was about to start the Count appeared, accompanied by Webster, and entered a carriage, the door of which was being guarded by Edwards. As soon as they were out of the station it would have given any member of the Ring food for reflection to see the Count lean back and roar with laughter, while he pulled off a wig, whiskers, and moustache, disclosing the well-known features of Bob Dixey. “Phew!” he exclaimed. “Glad to get them off, never so hot in my natural. By the way. hope my duel scar didn’t melt any.” he added, examining himself in the looking-glass under the rack. “No. seems all right: and couldn’t I do with a shave’ Well. boys, how did it pan out?” “First-class.” answered the Slacker,

who was totting up his betting-b00k—-“£3340 my lot. What’s yours. Harcourt .” “About £2900.” replied Maggs. “Capital” said Dixev. “And what about S.P.t” "Well.” replied Edwards. “Arthur Patteson reckoned he could place about £800; and the return is 10 to 1.” “So there’ll be something over £ 14.000 to draw,” remarked Dixey. “Only thing is- there’ll be such a carving up. one way and another.” he added, in an undertone, glancing in the direction of Webster. "That’s so.” returned Edwards: “and young Ginger will want his bit.” "Darned young ass!” said Dixey, angrily. “Nearly gave the show away. Likely as not there might have been an inquiry into his riding of Parmesan.” “Suppose he was afraid to come too near for fear you’d give it away by a too clever finish for the part.”

“No fear of that,” replied Dixey. “I watched and copied every action of the Count’s, till I could defy any one to tell the difference. By the way, wha’s the latest news of that warrior?” "No trouble at all,’’ said Edwards. "We divulged the plot to him the night before last at Patteson’s rooms. Promised him £5O) the morning after the race, so that he could clear out at once to Italy, with his victorious Bronzewing, and a copy of the ’Sportsman’ crediting him with a winning mount. He was delighted, and agreed to remain as the guest of Patteson. who undertook to supply him with as many foul cigars, and as much maccaroni and sweet fizz, as he wanted, and on no account to allow him to show his face out of doors till our return.” The last act in the Bronzewing coup was the settling, which, as far as the Ring and Messrs Edwards, Maggs, and Co. were concerned, was perfectly satisfactory. However, as was only to be

expected with so many cooks, the earv ing up of the proceeds was not. In fact. Webster and Ginger Vyse were by no means pleased with their little lot; while it was commonly stated that the account rendered by Arthur Patteson was not the whole truth. The consequence was that there was a split in the camp, and the publication of queer tales led to an inquiry, and the eventual warning off of the entire crowd. What happened to them all is difficult to say; but it is rumoured that Bob Dixey and Ginger Vyse met each other at an up-country meeting in the Argentine, and came to blows, resulting in serious bloodshed: but whose it was not known. Harcourt Maggs has been “spoken” en route for Canada, whither Slacker Edwards, intended to accompany him; but the latter, it appears. never got further than the American bar.—“lllustrated Sporting and Dramatic News.”