ON THE CANTERBURY CUP.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1348, 23 November 1872, Page 3

ON THE CANTERBURY CUP.

[to the editor.] Sir— Having noticed in your issue of lost week an explanation of Mr Redwood's regarding the sale of Peeress prior to the Cup being run for, and thinking myßelf justified in offering some remarks on this event which has caused so much criticism amongst the sportsmen of the country, I will begin by saying that it is no uncommon occurrence for owners of horses to publicly or privately sell their favorite or their outsider, as the case may be, with or without their engagements. It might be argued in opposition to this that such things are not done in Australia, For instance, Mr De Mestre scouted the idea of taking L3OOO for Dagworth when the owner of this home made him aware of the offer he had got, but it must be also For continuation of News, see Uh page.)

borne in mind that the owner was thinking seriously abont this grand sum total, three thousand pounds, which was of a far greater amount than the Melbourne Cup was likely to reach with all the sweepstakes added. In the meantime Mr De Mestre was thinking: about the honor he would gain by placing his care and colors first past the post. If this horse had been Mr De Mestre's private property it remains in doubt whether he would have pocketed the certainty or not. Your readers, no doubt, remember the sale of Hobbie Nobble, who was the strongest favorite that ever started for an English Derby, and caused great anxiety amongst the sports in '52 when he was beaten for that great event by Daniel O'Ronrke. It is a well-known fact that if Hobbie had won the Derby a great many of the betting gentry would, to use a colonialism, "gone up a tree." Those parties referred to held a meeting, at which it was decided to buy Hobbie Nobble, and arrange matters after. 1 Aa & matter of courao they got bia>, bnt had to pay pretty well for him. They | dared not scratch him in England, especially such a hot favorite ; consequently they started him, and the cure was worse than tho disease for the uninitiated. I need not say he lost it, and that the buyers got recompensed for their trouble. Great as was the row, there was no blame attached to the gentleman that sold the horse for a long price with his engagements. I think a leaf out of Hobbies book would have suited the Peeress admirably at Christchurch. Now, whatever fault may be found with Mr Walters for scratching the mare, I think Mr Redwood is entirely free from blame, especially when I notice that he offered this mare with her engagements to several parties for LBOO previous to the Cup day, aud also cautioned some of the Peeress's supporters, that she was in the market. Those who think fit to censure Mr Redwood bo severely, seem to look at the dark side of the picture all the time. Perhaps this gentleman firmly believed that his mare could not win the Cup, and that this was a fine chance to sell her. Of course this is only a supposition of mine ; but I think if your readers would compare the time it took Peeress to accomplish that sime distance for the Cup of last year in the deciding heat with Knottingley, when she raced it every yard, and took the exact same time, 4min. 13sec, which Lurline won it in this year with luxndu down, they will say that the good old mare could not have won it, and that Mr Redwood is the John Tait of New Zealand in matters of a horsey nature. As to the disqualifying of this unfortunate Peeress, it strikes me forcibly that when the Jockey Club were about it, they might as well have ptit the pen through the gentleman's name that scratched her ; but I suppose there are reasons for that as there is for everything else of the kind. The Peeress has not got the gift of the gab, and consequently can make a very poor defence. Tho charges against her are numerous. She is accused of " going off her feed," and with being feverish in her feet too, near Cup day; and also with being inclined to flirt with other horses, which is no guarantee that she is in proper racing condition. In fact, the owner is so thorougly disgusted with the misdemeanours of her highness the Peeress that he will suffer to lose a little and take L 450 for her now. Yours, &c, Bannathlath.