Sporting & Dramatic REVIEW AND Licensed Victuallers’ Gazette. With which Is Incorporated the Weekly Standard. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1907. COLOUR IN HORSES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 885, 21 February 1907, Page 5

Sporting & Dramatic REVIEW AND Licensed Victuallers’ Gazette. With which Is Incorporated the Weekly Standard. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1907. COLOUR IN HORSES.

The question of colour in horses is one that is constantly cropping up, and it is one which possesses a curious fascination with many breeders. The following should therefore prove of interest, as the remarks are made by an acknowledged expert on the subject:—

The “ Special Commissioner” of the London “ Sportsman” writes: — Professor Ridgeway, in his excellent book, “ Origin and Influence of the Thoroughbred Horse” (Cambridge Universal Press), has much to say of great interest on the subject of colour, and he reasons that the Libyan or North African horses, which were uniformly bays, are the foundation of what we call blood, whereas all other colours are due to an admixture from European or Asiatic sources. He further argues that “ the increasing efforts of breeders to produce greater lightness and speed are continually eliminating the Asiatic and European element, and accordingly dun and white have disappeared from, and grey, black, chestnut, and brown horses are gradually ceasing to be found in, our blood stock. But an increase of speed is gradually rendering the English thoroughbred a purely bay stock, and as from the earliest times of which we have any record the Libyan horse nas been not only the swiftest horse known, but has been of a bay colour, we are justified in concluding that his bay colour is as fundamental as his speed, and that it is due not to artificial .selection, but to natural specialisation.” There is no doubt a great deal in the above argument, but not so much as Professor Ridgeway infers from some statistics which he has compiled. He writes (page 441) : —

“ An examination of the colours of the winners of the Derby, Oaks, and St. Leger for the three decades from 1870 to 1889, inclusive, proves that not merely has grey disappeared altogether, and that black has almost gone, but that chestnut is also disappearing as well as brown. “ Table I. of the colours of the winning horses of the Derby. Oaks, and St. Leger from 1870 to 1899: —

“ From the above table,” he continues, “it is clear that during the last third of the past century bay has been slowly gaining upon both brown and chestnut combined, and that brown has been gaining upon chestnut. Thus the dun element, which we have always believed from our previous investigations, when mixed with bay, gives chestnut, is steadily being eliminated, and our racing stock is becoming a breed of bays and browns, with a steady tendency to become eventually purely bay. The same tendency is shown still more emphatically if we take the colours of the first three horses in each of the three great races just named: — Table 11., showing the colours of the three first horses in the Derby, Oaks, and St. Leger, from 1890 to 1899: —

“ Out oi 90 horses bay had only 36 in 1870-9, but rose to 54 in the last decade; while chestnut, which was represented by only 2 less than bay in the first decade, has sunk to 16 in the last; brown has gained slightly at the expense of chestnut, rising from 13 to 17. There can be I ttle doubt, in

view of these facts, that the English racing stock is steadily becoming bay.”

Thus, Professor Ridgeway, and his whole book is of such extreme value that it is a pity he had no practical breeder of blood .stock standing by ■him when he came to the above seemingly logical conclusions. It should have been pointed out to him that “ natural specialisation” of colour had not nearly so much as he imagines to do with the results to which he calls attention. The accident of the arrival of Galopin on. the scene was the main factor in establishing such a predominance of bays and browns; Stockwell and his sons, together with Hermit, had up to then kept the chestnuts going. Neither Galopin nor his son St. Simon ever sired a chestnut; many other Galopin and St. Simon stallions have the same characteristic; the line went to the top of fashion, monopolised the best mares, and the result that has followed could hardly have been otherwise under the circumstances, but it is entirely through Galopin and fashion that It has come about in such a brief period. I am not contending that Professor Ridgeway’s reasoning as to colour is wrong in the abstract, but the premises on which he bases his conclusions are artificial and quite insufficient. It may be that the bay colour wall ultimately wipe out the chestnut, and one reason for such an anticipation is that whereas a bay or a brown horse is at times so absolutely prepotent as regards colour that he never sires a chestnut foal, the converse of this has never yet held good with regard to a chestnut stallion; the stock of all such are often as not bays and browns. But it is early days to talk of chestnuts as disappearing, blacks as “ almost gone,” and •greys as having disappeared altogether, when we have a chestnut like Polar Star and a black like Slieve Gallion to carry on with, and there are any number of good greys in France, nor is it so long since one of them, Holocaust, was thought by many a sure winner of the Epsom Derby won by Flying Fox, had he not fallen and broken his leg. There are a good many useful black horses about just now —for example, Black Arrow and Prince William.

As to the absorption of chestnut, here is a phenomenon which I should like Professor R'dgeway to consider. Galopin and St. Simon having carried on without a chestnut flaw in any of their stock, we reach St. Simon’s best sons, Persimmon and St. Frusquin, and find that they have not only dropped the family tradition of never siring chestnuts, but have in many instances got stock reverting to “ the dun .shade of chestnut” colour, which, he thinks, is being steadily eliminated. Moreover, it has happened, in Persimmon’s case at all events, that some of his best stock have come of pale chestnut colour, Zinfandel, for example. Donovan (by Galopin) also sired a good many sons and daughters that were really “ dun chestnuts,” and in these cases it will be seen that the old European colour will still assert itself, for no Libyan ' horse or pure-bred Arab was ever known to be a dun. The one solid argument in favour of Professor Ridgeway’s contention that the bay colour must ultimately prevail is that you do often find bay or brown stallions and hay or brown mares who never sire or produce chestnut foals, and no animal of chestnut colour ever has any such prepotency. At the same time, I should be very sorry to reach a period when the colour of Stockwell and Blair Athol has ceased to be, and I do not think, in point of fact, that we shall reach it for many generations to come. It would be ■the result of mating some yellow dun Celtic ponies with thoroughbred horses who, so far as their own kind go, have never sired chestnut stock. If it be correct that chestnut colour came originally from a mixture of a Libyan bay with Northern dun, a similar result ought to follow from such mating as I suggest, and Professor Cossar Ewart may extend his many experiments so as to take in this one.

In America recently there has been a lot of talk anent “ doping” horses for the show ring, but (says a New York paper) “ stimulating a horse with champagne is not ‘ artificially preparing’ him for the show ring within the meaning of the rules of the National Horse Show Association (New York). This was officially decided recently when J. Campbell Thompson asked permission of the management to give one of his highst'eppefs a small 'bottle. “Give him all the wine he wants,” was the answer.

Now that J. B. Williamson’s trio of rac- ' ers have struck form (Aqua Regia, Fretwork, and Engraver) they should be worth watching both at the Woodville and Taranaki meetings.

Cambrian, who lightened up very much after the A.R.C. Summer Meeting, is now freshening up and should give a good account of himself at the Easter gathering.

The two Cup horses, Scotty (Taranaki) and Master Delaval (Wanganui) were saddled up on Saturday morning for mile on the sand. The former led throughout, and finished under a pull in i. 46 3-ssecs. Both had light weights in the saddle.

The Dunedin Cup was won by Stepdancer, with Cross Battery second and Lapland third. The winner paid a dividend of £5 4s and Cross Battery 16s. The Champagne Stakes was won by Bonny Glen, Glencu.loch running second and Janangir third. Narcissus was first home in the Hurdle Race, Wild Cat filling second place and Wonderful third.

Omati is down for engagements at the Taranaki Summer Meeting. On the first day he meets the flying Kitchen maid, besides others in the Flying Handicap, conceding weight to the lot. He is also top weight (tost.) in the Hack Race.

On Saturday morning Delania, who has been on the shelf since Christmas, was given four furlongs in company with the 2-year-old Pohutu. They got over the distance (on the sand) in 51 3~ssecs., finishing up sound.

The veteran Mark Ryan probably does more track riding than any other jockey at Ellerslie. He is to be seen constantly in the saddle before and after breakfast, and on all sorts and conditions of equines.

At the recent sale the A.R.C. secured all the allotments running parallel with the race track from the stone wall .to the five furlong post, with the exception of three that were purchased privately. ♦ * * ♦

On Saturday morning Omati put in a nice track gallop on the sand. Slipping away from the -6 furlong post the old fellow made it a merry pace, finishing up z the last 5 furlongs in 1.3 i-gsecs.

Landlock, in company with Ben Johnson, on Saturday morning, jumped a couple of the small hurdles and was then put over the higher ones. The beginner shaped like an old horse, and with his pace he must prove an awkward customer to meet later on.

Double books have been opened on the Wanganui Cup and Flying Handicap. The present fancies in the Cup locally are Paritutu, Master Delaval, and Marguerite, coupled with Delamere, Kitchenmaid and Contender. 100 to i to too to 1 is offered on the field.

Returned visitors from Egmont speak very highly about the way Marguerite won the Cup, and predict that she wid be hard to settle in the Wanganui Cup.

The pony Present pulled up lame on Thursday morning, and will not be seen out for some time to come.

Gaiety, who was well backed away from the course in the Flying Handicap at the Poverty Bay J.C. gathering, was left alone when she annexed the. Farewell handicap, paying the nice dividend of Z? 7 IS -

Major Loder was the first military man to win the Derby since Colonel Townley’s success with Kettledrum in 1861 —45 years ago. Mr P. P. Gilpinu is similarly the first amateur trainer to claim a Derby success. A gentleman jockey has yet to succeed in any classic event —Mr George Thursbv has been thrice second.

The most successful jockey in Germany last season was O’Connor, who with 183 mounts, won 74 races and scored 44 seconds, a great record. » » * *

Writing to the “Times” to advocate the licensing in England of the totalisator, Sir Walter Gilbey, Bart., says: “To abolish betting on horse-racing would be as impossible as to close the Stock. Exchange. Wagering is inherent. in all classes of society, and the 'Legislature does not declare betting in itself to be illegal. The great danger of betting is doing so on credit, and the immense advantage of the totalisator would be .that it would have the effect of making gambling on horse-racing a ready-money transaction. Thus, the argument of the working and middle classes against Lord Davey’s measure would fall to the ground, and our great voluntary institutions could be benefited by the .funds derived from this system.”

Mr E. J. Watt has withdrawn all his from the Taranaki Jockey Club Meeting.

The Live Stock General Insurance Co. of New Zealand is now accepting insurances up to /J2OOO on any one animal at especially low rates, further particulars are advertised.

The Northern S.S. Co. advertise an excursion to the Opotiki Show and race* on February 27 and 28. The s.s. Waiotahi leaves Auckland on Monday next at 3 p.m., and returns on Sunday, March 3rd.

The ex-Nevy Zealander Grand Rapids who was taken to West Australia about 15 months ago by C. Moore, returns to Flemington to join that trainer’s string.

Entries close on Friday, March 1, with the secretary, Mr E. Goodbehere, for the Second Feilding Stakes, of 500 sovs., to be run at the Spring Meeting of the Feiiding Jockey Club on November 29 and 30. It is open to horses two years old and upwards at the time of starting. It is a weight-for-age event, with penalties and allowances. Winners after March Ist are subject to the conditions enumerated in the advertisement. The right is reserved to withdraw this event in the case of not more than fifty entries being received.

Arthur Nightingale, writing his reminisences in the “Sportsman” E.) says:— “I agree with the pronouncement that it is impossible to lay down hard and fast rules (on paper or elsewhere) with regard to steeplechase riding. We can only acquire skill, as intimated, by constant practice of the right sort, by cultivating our natural aptitude to the fullest degree, by indomitable perseverance and pluck. One should sit as stid as possible when riding over a country, and never drive a horse at a fence unless he is a slug. He may jump better if he is not interfered with at the critical moment. The great art in riding a beaten horse is to put your whip down and not ride him into his fences, while assisting him as much as you can with your hands. I have< no special faith in the efficacy of spurs. I use what are called “dummies”—that is, spurs with no rowels at all. When I won the Grand National on Ilex he was never hit or touched, and had not a mark on him at the end of that long tiring journey.

One of a famous racing family, Lord Delavel Beresfordj was killed in a railway accident. “Intense and universal sympathy is felt for Lord Charles Beresford, £.ord Marcus Beresford, and all the Waterford family in the acute grief into which they I have been thrown, whites “Ashplant.” Lord Delavel Beresford was the youngest of five brothers, all real good men and true. The late Marquis of Waterfurd, the late Lord William Beresford, Lord Charles the sailor, and Lord Marcus, now extra equerry to His Majesty and manager of His Majesty’s stud. Three, the iate Marquis, Lord William, and Lord Marcus, served their sovereign as soldiers. Lord Charles does so still with world-wide distinction as a sailor. Lord Delaval, of a more roving disposition, chose the wilds of Mexico and America, wherein to prove what he was made of. At the time of his death he possessed immense tracts of land out there (some of the best stocked ranches in the world) and was a very large employer of labour.”

A peculiar experiment has been tried in America with Lou Milton, the dam of the great trotting mare Lou Dillon. She has been mated with a Jack, or stallion ass, and the progeny will be a mule. It seems incredible that the owner of the dam of the fastest trotting mare the world has produced should not go on breeding horses from her (writes Rothschild). It will certainly be interesting to await and see what the progeny wil. be in the way of speed. Allowing it turns out a flier it cannot breed, or start in horse races, and its usefulness will be confined to exhibitions. It looks like sacrilege to throw away such a good mare.

At a meeting of the Auckland Rowing Association held on Tuesday evening, it was decided to hold a gala at Kohimarama on Saturday, March 9. The various clubs are giving their best support, and it is anticipated that the number participating will eclipse the record created last year, when 240 rowers took part. It was also decided to hold the Association Regatta on Saturday, March 23, at Lake Takapuna. The following preliminary programme was approved:—l. Novice Fours (under 21 years age); 2. Maiden Fours (10 stone and under); 3. Maiden Fours (open weights) ; 4. Junior Fours (16 stone and under); 5. Junior Fours (open weights) ; 6. Senior Fours (best and best boats); 7. Maiden Double Sculls (10 stone and under) ; 8. Maiden Double Sculls (open weights) ; 9. Junior Double Sculls (open weights); 11. Senior Double Scu'ls (best and best boats) ; 12. Sculling Handicap (Marshall Cup).

Uhlander, the -runner-up in the Papakura Cup, is just now looking bard and muscular. The South Auckland Cup looks a fair thing for the Uhlan gelding.

'' To a “Telegraph” interviewer Captain C. B. Steele of the Indian Army, transport officer of the Bareilly Brigade (commanded by General Spens), thus delivered himself on the subject of horse supply from Australia“ The stamp of horse most suitable for cavalry was one that had good breeding, and India depended very greatly on Australia for a supply of these chargers. The Arab had /been tried, but it is not considered that VKe^seriousty rivals the Austra.ian of good pedigree. The Australian cob has given intense satisfaction because of his hardy nature. Long backed and tall horses are not regarded with favour.” The most mark-worthy thing he said was (in answer to a question), that it would be satisfactory to all parties concerned, if the Government was able to give a stamp of ap-

proval to horses which were sent to India. Sometimes the middleman exploited the market, and many of the horses were condemned by the remount authorities. If an Imperial officer, acting for the Imperial Government, carefully inspected the horses before they were shipped, and give what would practically be a government stamp of approval, it would have the effect of preventing inferior horses being sent to India.

The Duke of Westminster is without a nomination in the English Derby of 1907, owing to some informality having occurred in connection with his entries. His Grace states that there is no foundation for the statement that the last has been seen of the St. Leger winner, Troutbeck, on a racecourse.

It is reported that during the iast season’s racing in England the King attended at meetings on thirty-five days.

Bl. or Decade. Bay. Ch. Br. Br. Bl. 1870-9 . . . 15 12 2 1 0 1880-9 . . . 16 8 5 0 1 1890-9 ... . . . 17 6 7 0 0

Br. or B or Decade. Bay. Ch. Br. Bl. Bl. Br. 1870-9 ... 36 34 13 4 2 1 1880-9 42 28 IK () 2 1 1890-9 . .. ... 54 16 17 1 0 2