Chapter XVI: The Gist of it all (5)

During the last forty years several proprietary race clubs have come into existence. They race at Rosehill, Canterbury Park, Moorefield and Warwick Farm. Racing under the rules and regulations of the Jockey Club they have done well. In addition to these, four other clubs were racing in the metropolitan area in 1921, under what was termed Associated Club Rules—Ascot, Victoria Park, Kensington and Rosebery Clubs. They raced ponies and horses (all heights), and for the above year paid out in prize-money £106,646.

Past and Present New South Wales Riders.

During the past hundred years or so there have been a number of most proficient horsemen. In the early days the riding was principally done by members of the military forces stationed in the colony. Since then our riders have achieved fame, not only on the Australian race tracks, but also in England, Germany, Austria, Russia, India, China, Japan and the East India Islands.

Early racing reports are very brief, and rarely is the rider mentioned. However, as the sport increased in popularity, the Press gave details, which mentioned the names of the winning riders. Thus we read Mr. Broughton and Mr. Rouse, two of the early owners, rode their own horses. Among the early professionals were Dunn, Badkin, Hedly, Marsden, Cashman, Ford and John Higgerson.

The most remarkable of those old-time jockeys was John Higgerson who, in his 95th year, met with fatal injuries through the accidental discharge of a gun. Higgerson commenced riding in races when about seventeen years of age, and in his fifty-fifth year won the Champion Race at Flemington after a dead heat between Tarragon and Volunteer; time, 5 min. 47 sec. As the principals could not agree to divide, mainly owing to Tarragon’s owner, Mr. Town, not being present, the dead heat was run off, when Tarragon won in 5 min. 58 sec. In October of 1857, at Flemington, Higgerson rode Veno, when he beat Alice Hawthorn (S. Mahon) in the great match for £2,000 (3 miles). The same afternoon, on Cooramin, he beat Tomboy (R. Mitchell) in a match for £200 aside, 1½ mile, and two hours after winning the match against Alice Hawthorn, Veno saddled up again and beat Van Tromp (S. Mahon) over three miles. The stakes in this last contest were £700, Mr. G. T. Rowe, who owned both Veno and Cooramin, laying £500 to £200. Higgerson also won the match on Ben Bolt, beating Lauristina. A complete history of Johnny Higgerson’s career in the saddle would fill a volume.

John Cutts was one of the best of our old-time riders. He won the first two Melbourne Cups on Archer, also the first St. Leger, at Homebush, in 1847; on Whalebone and the Queen’s Plate at Homebush in 1851. He was the mount on Lady Morgan in the Champion Race at Randwick in 1860.

James Ashworth, who was principally connected with the Byron Lodge stables, had a remarkable riding career. Some of his notable wins were on Zoe, Talleyrand, Glencoe, Goldsbrough and The Barb. During the latter period of his life he acted as Clerk of the Course at Randwick.

Contemporary with Ashworth was John Driscoll, who, in 1857, won a race at Parramatta on Blue Bonnett. Ten years later he won the Melbourne Cup on Tim Whiffler. In after years he became landlord of the Blind Beggar Hotel, at the corner of Liverpool and Oxford Streets, Sydney.

Joseph Kean, like Ashworth, finished up his days as Clerk of the Course at Randwick. He was on Javelin when that colt won the A.J.C. Derby, and was the rider of Kingsborough for the late Sir Hercules Robinson when he won the A.J.C. Champagne Stakes, and landed O’Mera home for O’Brien’s Cup at the meeting held by Tattersall’s Club in 1867. He also rode Yattendon in his last two races.

In the ’sixties there were a number of well-known riders—“Bricky” Colley, John Ramsay, P. Piggott, Donald Nicholson, Charley Stanley, Dick Snell, William Yeomans, Thomas and John Brown, Joseph Burton, Michael Bryant, Arthur Battye, and that fine old Englishman—Sam Holmes. W. Yeomans, who only died recently, amongst other events won the V.R.C. Oaks three times with Formosa, Mileta and Petrea; Ascot Vale Stakes on Newminster and First King, also the Australian Cup and V.R.C. St. Leger on the First King, and A.J.C. Derby on Wheatear. Yeomans put up a remarkable riding performance at Wagga on St. Patrick’s Day, 1870, when he rode the winners of six races, and was second and third in two others. The programme consisted of eight events.

Samuel Holmes was an Englishman. A most able rider. After retiring from the saddle he became host of the Cottage Inn at Parramatta. Many an afternoon have I put in with him chatting over old times. His most memorable winning ride was on Tomboy, in a sweepstakes of 25 sovereigns, with 100 sovereigns added, w.f.a. (3 miles), which took place at Flemington on the third day of the Melbourne Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting, 1857, a week after the great match between Veno and Alice Hawthorn. Included in the field of six was the champion Veno, ridden by Higgerson. Sam Holmes, on Tomboy, decided that he would make the field travel all the way. He was the first to show in front, where he remained, winning easily by twenty lengths from Moss Trooper, with Veno two lengths away third. The time, 6 min. 16 sec., tells that Veno had gone off. There was great cheering at the defeat of the Sydney champion, and to commemorate the victory Holmes was presented with an engraved silver watch.

John Ramsay was an able horseman who won, among other events, a Wagga Cup on Janitor, A.J.C. Champagne and St. Leger Stakes on Lecturer and Moselle, respectively. He is still alive, as also is P. Piggott, who landed the double for the Hon. J. White, V.R.C. Derby and Melbourne Cup on Chester in 1877. Donald Nicholson, who was killed in the Caulfield Cup accident in 1885, was undoubtedly the cleverest lightweight rider ever seen in Australia. Piggott, Nicholson and T. Bennett were associated with the late Mr. T. Ivory. Bennett won the first Metropolitan Stakes at Randwick (1866) on Bylong. He now receives a pension from the A.J.C. Dick Snell was another valuable old-timer, who won the Victoria Derby on Tricolor in 1857, and the St. Leger at Homebush in 1855 and 1857. Charles Stanley did most of his riding for the late Mr. John Tait, in whose “yellow and black” livery he won the Champion Race on The Barb, the Melbourne Cup with Glencoe, Victoria Derby with Fireworks and Florence, who also won the Oaks, and the A.J.C. Derby on The Barb, Fireworks and Florence. For years he was an hotelkeeper at Campbelltown. George Donnelly won many good races for the late Mr. de Mestre, among them the A.J.C. Champagne Stakes on Chester. Perhaps his most notable ride was on Dagworth in the Queen’s Plate (3 miles) at Randwick, when he ran a dead heat with Reprieve, and beat him on the run off.

The brothers John and Thomas Brown, of West Maitland, were able horsemen. The latter did best in important events, as he won the Melbourne Cup on Calamia, Victoria and A.J.C. Derbies with Loup Garou, Standish Handicap Duration, and A.J.C. St. Leger on Commodore. Later on he trained principally for the late Hon. William Long. His best horse was the unbeaten Grand Flaneur. Mention of Grand Flaneur reminds me of his rider, Tom Hales, in his day termed the “Grand Horseman.” For the late Hon. J. White, Hales rode in three hundred and two races, of which he won one hundred and thirty-seven, winning in stakes £75,944. In the course of his twenty years in the saddle, Hales had one thousand six hundred and forty-five mounts, winning four hundred and ninety, three hundred and twenty-six seconds, and third in one hundred and ninety. Value of stakes won by him was £166,770.

In later days perhaps the most distinguished of our riders were James Barden, now a leading trainer at Randwick, Matt Harris, who died a few years ago, and James and John Gough. T. Clayton was mostly associated with Poseidon, winner of the double Caulfield and Melbourne Cups in 1906. John Delaney and William Delaney were also much in demand. Perhaps the former was the more able rider. In the lightweight division the late Cecil Parker was at the top of his class. He was a pupil of a famous old rider—Samuel Lovell, who was tutored in his young days by Johnny Higgerson. Unfortunately Parker died at an early age, but Samuel Lovell is still hale and hearty, living at Camden.

Other prominent riders of the old school were Martin Gallagher, admitted to be the most skilful with the whip in the left hand that we ever had; Edward M’Grade, who lost his life in the wreck of the “Ellen Nichol”; L. Kuhn, W. and E. Huxley, T. Nerricker, John Gainsforth, the Brothers John, Frank and Fred Fielder, John Hincks, C. Pearson, F. M’Grath and W. Kelso. Quite a number of these are now leading trainers.

Present-day Riders.

During the last decade race riding has undergone a complete change. The old-time seat has passed away in favour of the “Tod Sloan” position. Races are differently run, and the training of horses has altered. So far as jockeyship is concerned, the new style has its advantages over the old, as this style enables the escape of wind pressure, and the placing of weight more on the withers. Those who shorten their leathers within reason have a fair command of their horses, but the majority ride so short that the power to guide or control their mounts is often lost. The most skilful of our riders of this State during the last twenty years are W. H. M’Lachlan, Myles Connell, Albert Wood and K. Bracken.

Prominent Gentlemen Riders.

In the racing history of the colony gentlemen riders have played a prominent part. At the time of writing the oldest of those is the Hon. James Gormly, who finished fourth in the memorable Ten Miles Race at Wagga in 1868 on his own horse, Camel, and won many races in his youthful days. The late Mr. Phil Glennister was a noted horseman in his day, as was also Mr. W. P. Bowes. Captain Airey was a very fine horseman, also Messrs. W. Fowles, Harry Haines, Edward Terry, G. Mason, Coyle, W. Gosper, T. West, G. M. Bailey, W. Acraman, E. and A. Weston, M. Millen, Benson, A. Batty, G. Fagan, W. H. Pye and Dr. Cortis. Then in later days, at the Bligh and Tirranna Meetings, and at times at Randwick, we have seen some excellent riding performances accomplished by Messrs. E. M. Betts, A. M. Cox, S. B. Rouse, F. Nivison, H. Brown, E. A. Blomfield, F. Blomfield, Dowling, W. Beaumont, W. E. Manning, C. Stephen, W. E. White, Justine M’Carthy, K. Austin, C. R. Halloran, W. E. White, also Mr. Tom Watson prior to his settling in Sydney as our leading starter. The Watson family were all famous horsemen.

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The Stutz literally raced its way into the confidence of the motor-loving public. The first Stutz Car was entered in the gruelling 300 mile race at Indianapolis in 1911. It made good in a day.

Additional racing laurels were won in 1912–13–14, and then came the phenomenal Stutz year, 1915, when the Stutz racing Cars won first and second in every big race, conquering the best Cars of two Continents.

At the close of 1915 racing season, when the principles of Stutz construction were fully proven, racing was discontinued by the factory. Stutz then metaphorically “went to stud.”

The result of these years of experience and experiments on the racecourse consumed in perfecting the 16 valve motor and the wonderful chassis were given to the public in Stutz Stock Cars. The same precision, thoroughness and efficiency that made Stutz a winner on the racecourse is evident in the popular and respected Stutz of to-day.

The Stutz Car is an aristocrat, yet is not high priced. The best materials obtainable, coupled with skilled workmanship, only are used in the construction of the Stutz Cars. The bodies are in a class by themselves in the beauty of their lines and graceful appearance on the road. All have the low slung racy appearance, and are designed for comfort as well as refinement. Torpedo effect is carried out on all models.

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NEWMARKET SALE PADDOCK: ANNUAL PARADE OF YEARLINGS IN PROGRESS
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During past years we have sold by auction a large number of English Thoroughbred Horses consigned to us by the well-known Breeders and Owners, Lord Dewar, Messrs. Brice Bros., Rundle Brendon, E. de Mestre, the late E. Kennedy Jones, etc.

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The House of Peapes

and its “WARRIGAL” Trade Mark

Australians with their intense love of sport have so made England’s “Sport of Kings” a part of their national existence that to-day the annual number of race-meetings at any Australian course greatly exceeds that of all the English courses combined.

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_Notable Cups._

_The_ SYDNEY CUP, 1921 _Presented by_ THE AUSTRALIAN JOCKEY CLUB.
_Won by_ Mr. E. LEE STEERE’S “EURYTHMIC”
Distance: 2 miles. Time: 3 min. 24¼ secs.
Jockey: F. Dempsey, 9st. 8lb.

_The_ SYDNEY CUP, 1920 _Presented by_ Right Honorable Sir ADRIAN
KNOX, K C M G, P.C. _Won by_
“KENNAQUHAIR,” _the property of_ Messrs.
W.M. BORTHWICK _and_ J. LAYCOCK Distance:
2 miles. Time: 3 min. 22¼ secs. Jockey: A.
Wood, 9st. 5lb.

_The_ PRINCE _of_ WALES GOLD _Presented by_ THE AUSTRALIAN JOCKEY CLUB,
CUP _in honour of the visit of_ H.R.H. THE
PRINCE OF WALES, JUNE, 1920 _Won by_ Mr.
H. W. MORTON’S “PARKDALE” Dead Heat with
Mr. T. HICKEY’S “SILVERTON” (Two Cups
presented) Distance: 1 mile 5 furlongs.
Time: 2 min. 46¾ secs. Jockeys: A. Wood
8st. 2lb.; J. Simmons, 6st. 11lb.

_The three Cups illustrated were executed in Solid Gold by_

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TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES

1. Silently corrected obvious typographical errors and variations in spelling. 2. Retained archaic, non-standard, and uncertain spellings as printed. 3. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_. 4. Enclosed bold font in =equals=.