THE RICHMOND THOUSAND.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 957, 9 July 1908, Page 5

THE RICHMOND THOUSAND.

VICTORY OF AN AUCKLAND PONY.

The Richmond Thousand, the biggest stake ever offered for competition among ponies, was run on Monday on the Ascot course, Melbourne. There was a splendid entry, ponies being nominated from all the principal centres. Little Dod, Miss Mayfield, Fuse, Skylark, Lorraine, Lady Clare, Taree, and Clarette represented New South Wales. New Zealand was represented by Mighty Atom, Hopscotch, Balgonie, and Zoraya; and Tasmania by Glimmer; while, of course, the cream of the Victorian contingent were in commission. Unfortunately the weather was very bad, and the heavy going affected the top weights. From the meagre particulars to hand, it would appear that the Sydney pony Little Dod (7st 131 b) made strong play, and looked like winning, but at the distance Balgonie (Bst 31b), who had a bad passage, got through, and, finishing in great style, defeated Little Dod. That smart. Aucklander Mighty Atom had the big impost of 9st 101 b, Hopscotch had Bst, and Zoraya 7st 101 b. Balgonie, the winner, was bred in Auckland, being got by the defunct Phoebus Apollo from Balbirnie, a mare who used to race here in the all black colours of Mr. J. Marshall. Balgonie more recently has been in Wellington, where a race or two has gone to her credit.