PROMINENT SPORTING MEN.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 464, 15 June 1899, Page 12

PROMINENT SPORTING MEN.

MR GEORGE CUTTS.

A Veteran of the Old School.

[By

Atlas.]

There are but few in our midst better entitled to a position in our Portrait Gallery of prominent sporting men than Mr George Cutts, the official starter for the Auckland Racing Club, the Avondale Jockey Club, and the Takapuna Club. In order to do this veteran sportsman justice ifc would take me columns of space more than I have at my disposal at the present time, for I verily believe that he has had a longer colonial experience on the Turf than anyone I know, with perhaps the exception of old Noah—l mean Noah Beal, who trains for William Forrester, and has had the handling of The Grafter, Gaulus, Niagara, and other equine giants too numerous to mention. When looking at the long, lithe figure as he strode over the course at Ellerslie at the recent meeting and ranged up a field of lads, some of whom seemed inclined to be cheeky, the thought passed through my mind do these boys know who is starting them ? If they did I fancy that he would exact the respect that a life brimful of experience as a jockey, trainer, and studmaster has a right to command. Without going into details now, it is my duty to chronicle the fact that the subject. of our sketch this week was born in Maitland, on the turbulent Hunter River, and commenced to ride exercise work for his father in the year 1844. Just fancy ! 55 years ago, and during the time that has intervened, Mr George Cutts has almost continuously been in harness. I have the notes at my disposal, but I will take another opportunity of following this veteran’s career more closely in detail. At present I will content myself with an outline only of his life. In the early days, when young George Cutts first started to ride, boys had to serve several years in a stable before they were allowed to ride in races. Not so now. The stable boy, so to speak, is placed side by aide with such men as Joe Gallagher, Mark Ryan, and Tommy Taylor, and gives infinitely more trouble and cheek. In 1845 young Gcjrge Cutts was riding work for Mr Chambers. His first race was on a horse called Bedford, and he also rode such old timers as Jorricks and Queen of Hearts. The races in those days were run in two mile heats, and, among others that the young artist bestrode, was Romeo, who came to New Zealand. After that Cutts visited Sydney, wheie he rode at Home Bush for Mr William Cutts. There are not many living now who can remember the good old days of Home Bush, long before Randwick was thought of, and young Cutts in those days was a successful jockey, both at Home Bush and Parramatta. In ’52 we find him introduced to New Zealand, when he came over with horses from Australia. In the Nelson district in 1853 he was very successful, riding Zoe, Cossack, and other celebrities of the old times. Nelson then was the racing centre of New Zealand, and it does one’s heart good to hear the veteran speaking of the character of the sportsmen in Nelson in those days. They we.e nearly all good English gentlemen, who, in the absence of bookmakers, made wagers between themselves, and bet heavily, too. For Sir Edward Stafford Mr Cutts was particularly successful—notably on Symphony and Claret. Mr Cutts was also successful for Mr Hugh Stafford, and in 1857 he did the Australian turf a favour that should never be forgotten by the studmasters there, because in this year he took over Sir Hercules to sell, and Sir Hercules, be it remembered, became the sire of the famous Yattendon. At the same time Cutts took over Zoe and Zingara, and both won good races, and the two mares were bought by John Tait and Judge Cheeke who were I believe in partnership. Cutts took charge of the mares, and won two of the best races at Maitland with Zoe, and two at Narellan, and finally our friend was installed as the manager of Judge Cheeke and John Tait’s breeding establishment at Mount. Druitt. Mr Cutts must have been of a roving disposition, as in 1859 he left for New Zealand in response to an invitation, and once more Nelson was the scene of his operations. There he rode Strop in three winning races, and again took hie departure for Sydney, this time in the company of his brother and Reay. This combination had a real good time of it, as nearly all of them scored on Miss Roe, Strop, and 10. A visit to Melbourne was not so successful, but Strop, with Cutts up, ran fourtn in the Champion Race. I find that I must jump a lot of interesting events, but Mr Cutts was left in Sydney with Strop, and took him to Liverpool, where he won one race and lost the other. The old horse was trained for the Champion Race in 1860, but after the race he dropped dead. After that Mr Cutts came over from Australia to New Zealand and won several more races, principally at Nelson,.

In 1862 Mr Cutts was successful at Dunedin with Deception, a mare that originally belonged to Auckland. In 1864 Mr Cutts took charge of Mr Stafford’s stud of horses, and raced St. Patrick and another at Auckland, the meetings then being held at Epsom, Mr Robert Farmernow in Scotland, being Secretary of the Club, There he won two races, but Ted Halstead, on Dainty Ariel, beat him in a race he expected to win. Back to Christchurch again, only to be followed by a revisit to Auckland with Golden Cloud and Una in 1865. He was successful on this occasion with Golden Cloud, but I find that I cannot follow in detail the performances of Golden Cloud, Una, and their rider and trainer in the presenissue. After riding Virginia successfully in the South, Cutts returned to Auckland, and subsequently went to Hawke’s Bay in the employ of Mr James Watt, and won for that gentleman a number of races. He remained with Mr Watt for several years, and in 1871 left Napier with the intention of going to England with Mr Watt, but arriving at Auckland Mr Watt bought an eslishment here, and Cutts was left in charge. Mr Cutts raced for Mr Watt with varying success for some time, and was altogether seven years at Kohimaramara. After this Mr Cutts raced with varying success both as trainer and jockey, and then started as a public trainer in Christchurch, when he was appointed manager of the Middle Park Stud Company, where he remained for nine years and three months. The stallions under his control at Middle Park Stud were Sir Modred, old Traducer, St. George, and King of Clubs. In 1887 he left Middle Park, and took charge of the Hon. W. Robinson’s horses, and visited Sydney and Melbourne with a number of his horses, among the number being Thunderbolt (sold for SOOgns) and Silver Prince (sold for 1050gns). After that Mr Cutts spent some time as the manager of the New Zealand Stud Company at Sylvia Park, and remained there until such time as it was broken up. After the sale he took Mr W. R. Wilson’s purchases to Melbourne. He had charge of Impulse when he won the New Zealand Cup, but had a number of disappointments with this horse in Australia. The best old-time riders, in Mr Cutts’ opinion, were Johnny Higgerson, Sam Holmes, Johnny Cutts, Jimmy Cox, George Marsden (killed at Home Bush when riding Cassandra, through being jambed on a post), Joe and Jimmy Taafe. A curious story is told in connection with the death of poor Marsden. It is said that he wa) purposely rnn on to the post, and that the jockey who did so subsequently hanged himself in an orchard at Windsor.