The late Mr Martin Loughlin.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume V, Issue 220, 11 October 1894, Page 10

The late Mr Martin Loughlin.

The late Mr Martin Loughlin, who died at Ballarat recently from creeping paralysis (writes our Melbourne correspondent), had been ailing for a considerable time, and for some months his illness caused anxiety to his friends. Deceased’s brother arrived recently to take him back to his native city in the Old Country, but he was too ill to leave Ballarat. Mr Loughlin was a native of Castlewarren, Kilkenny, and from what can be gathered of his career, he was as a lad engaged .in agricultural pursuits, his father being a farmer. Subsequently, however, he learnt the baking trade. In 1854, he, with others, was seized with the mining fever and set out to try his luck in Australia. He was engaged for some time in seeking for gold with fair success, but afterwards worked as miner in the celebrated Egerton and Great Redan Extended and other mines. In the Great Extended he held a half share, and when the famous Band of Hope Company was formed he became possessed of a large interest in the mine, which turned out some twenty tons of gold. His large profits enabled him to spend sums in the development of the mining industry in the Stawell and other localities. Everything he touched appeared to turn to gold, as the saying goes. He formed one of a syndicate that purchased the Egerton mine for 3,000 from Mr Learmonth, and each member afterwards received ;£Bo,ooo on their outlay. Their large profits, however, were considerably diminished in an action at law brought by the former proprietor of the mine, and which they had to defend. This they did successfully after a protracted trial. Mr Loughlin started horse racing in a small way at first, running animals at country meetings, owning Blueskin in 1870. It was not until seven years after, however, that he began to be visited with great success. It was then that he got the late Tommy Corrigan to ride for him, when he possessed the old grey Lone Hand who was previously known as Partner. He won the steeple at Geelong, had a win at Flemington in the spring of ’77, and won there again in ’79 with 13.6 up. King Harry won a few good races for him over hurdles and on the flat. He appropriated the V.R.C. Autumn Hurdles in 1878, V.R.C. Spring Hurdles in 1879, and then the Geelong and Hobart Cups. In 1880 and 1881 Mr Loughlin was in the height of his success. With Sir Peter he won both the Autumn and Spring Hurdle Races at Flemington, the Autumn Steeple with Twilight in 1880. Handy Andy won the V.R.C. Maiden Hurdles, while Twilight again won the Autumn Steeple, and ran second to Sussex in the Grand National Steeple. Then there was Left Bower, a horse Tommy Corrigan thought equal to Lone Hand. He won the Hurdles and Steeple at Warnambool in 1879, and the Caulfield Grand National Steeple in 1882. In 1885 the green and white stripes were carried to victory in the Melbourne Cup by Sheet Anchor, whose son, Capstan, is the present favourite for the Caulfield Cup. What a great race it was, to be sure! Mick O’Brien had to ride all he knew to get Sheet Anchor home by a head from Grace Darling, Dan O’Brien’s Trenton being close up third. Grace Darling had previously won the Caulfield Cup, and that was the year Nordenfeldt won the Derby. Mr Loughlin backed his horse, who had previously been put

over small sticks, for and he gave to local charities. A few / — months previously he had won the , V.R.C. Grand National Steeple with Wymlet, who hit nearly every fence, with Corrigan up, and he only kept on by a great exhibition of horsemanship. In 1886 the green and white stripes were once again in evidence, Sheet Anchor winning the Bagot Handicap, and Game the V.R.C. and Caulfield Grand National Steeplechases. This horse was one of the best of the famous Panic family. Among other good performers owned by the deceased sportsman was Oakleigh (Rhoode —Adela), who won the Caulfield Cup in 1887, the V.R.C. Bagot Handicap in 1888, and the V.R.C. Handicap in 1889, Mr Loughlin never bought yearlings, and his name does not figure in connection with produce and juvenile stakes races. He was a good judge of a horse, loved the sport for the pleasure it gave him, thought a terrible lot of Tommy Corrigan, and when his untimely death was . broken to him the other day he was in- . . expressibly grieved. Deceased owned large areas of land (most of which is leased), and died worth a considerable sum of money. At one time his wealth ■■ . ’ - ■ 1 . . • f

was computed at Z3s°> OO °’ ut t^ie smashing of the banks, in nearly all of which he was a large shareholder (especially the Commercial Bank), caused him heavy losses. Then he held 800 Melbourne tramway shares, which depreciated in value, and the stock remained on his hands. So it was with his silver investments. However, roughly speaking, he died worth about He was the embodiment of everything that was kind and charitable, and in his time he helped many a poor soul who felt the pinch of poverty. He contributed large sums to all public movements likely to be beneficial, and used to instruct his secre tary, Mr Acheson, J.P., to distribute among charities every Christmastide. It is said that the amount he spent in charity would, if totalled, tot up to about Deceased was 61 years of age, was unmarried, but leaves a brother and two or three nephews, two of whom are in the old country. The Rev. Di. Moore, Bishop of Ballarat, attended the deceased gentleman in his last moments. He left a bequest to the Catholic Church of Ballarat of and sums to other institutions.