FAMOUS JUMPER

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 173, 9 August 1937, Page 6

FAMOUS JUMPER

Horse That Began in Harness CAREER OF MUT1NY Tbe career of a remarkable jurrper, Mutiny, in the early days of racing in Taranaki is recalled by Iho aotion of the Taranaki Jockey Club in conlerring life membership on Dr. H. B. Leatham, 0f New Plyinouth. Mutiny turne^. out to be a champion steeplechaser after beginning in the more n.odest role of a carriage horse. In the 90's Dr. Leatham was in search of a pair of horses for use in harness as a carriage team. Deciding that it would pay to obtain Ihe best available, he purchased a couple of thoroughbreds from Hawke's Bay, the pair costing him 60 gsuineas.. Both proved admirable as saddle horses as well as in harness, and while mounted on one of the pair, the doctor one day met the late Mr J. J. Russell, who was also riding. • Mr Russell,,, had the reputation of being a great judge of horseflesh, and immediately on looking over Dr. Leatham's mount he expressed his admiration of the animal. So enthusiastic was he that he requested the doctor *to allow him to try the horse as a jumper, and the two ' thereupon exchanged mount s. Put to the test at;several furze fences the horse simply flew them, and returning him to his owner Mr Russell pronounced hi m"a clinker." Mainly as a result of Mr Russell' s persuasions Dr. Leatham decided to place the gelding in training and he was soon named Mutiny. This was a name.soon to become famous, for at his first appearance Mutiny won a double at Waitara, and, after being unluekily defeated at New. Plymouth went on to Opunake to win tliree races in the one day, including two on end. ' A course of jumping was then ma'pped out for Mutiiiy aiid he showed his aptitude at this by a runaway win in tho Great Northern Hurdles of 1893. Unfortunately for Dr. Leatham his practiee required too mucli of his attention for him to travel with Mutiny to the race meetings and he offered the horse for sale. Strangely enough for 250 guineas ho was purehased bacjc by his original owner, Mr W. Douglas, of Hawke's Bay. Mutiuy immediately rose to be the greatest jumper of his period, and among his many successes were the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase of 1895 carrying'll.o and the same race the i'ollowing year witli 12.4. - At present among Dr. Leatham's most cherished possessions are several X>hotographs of Mutiny. One of particular interest is of this great performer hamessed with two other horses to a wagonette, in the days when he was hardly regarded as a champion in embryo .