GLOUCESTER CUP

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 12, 7 October 1937, Page 15

GLOUCESTER CUP

Main Event on H.B.JLC.'s Programme THE GENTLEMAN RIDER . (By 'The Barb'0Many clubs were angling at the commencement of this season for the honour of staging the Duke of Gloucester Cup, but the application of the Hawke 's Bay Jockey Club was the one favoured. When past endeavours to cater for amateur riders are considered no club in the whole of the Dominion possessed the concrete arguments of the Hawke 's Bay Jockey Club. In fact, it was a foregone conclusion that the metropolitan club of this district would be the favoured one to hold this trophy race for the 1937-38 season. Right baek in the 70's amateur ridors had special races set aside for them in Hawke 's Bay, although at that time and subsequent years up to 20 years ago, this class of horseman in this "district was of a very high grade, and quite a few successfully competed against their professional brethren. The first trophy race raced for under the auspices of the Hawlce's Bay Jockey Glub was the Ladies' Necldace in 1883, won by Mrs. Allan McLean's Frederica, ridden by Mr. "W. Parker, jnr. Early in the 90 's or late in the 80 's these bracelets and necklaces were something in the nature of a classic, as the condi- ! tions Tead "for four-year-olds and up- j wards that have never won a race," j with the result that many of our owners i selected young horses to win a bracelet , and placed them aside to keep them ' eligible for four-year-olds, with the" re- j Sult that competition was great. The great interest never failed to draw big fields, the starters always running into double flgures, Old-time Races. In the early 90's, at the Hawke 's Bay winter meeting, in a programme of seven races, no fewer than three were ,l set aside for the "lily-whites," and i turnjng back the records at random I j came across the winter meeting of 1891 when Mr. Arthur Hyde, well-known in Napier eommereial circles to-day, xode in the whole three events to win the Maiden Hurdles, the Ladies' Bracelet on Mrs. P. Herman's The Plug, and in ; the Hunt Cup Steepleehase was on the runner-up, Mozel. Mr. Hyde is still a member of the Hawke 's Bay Jockey Club, and will for sure be on the Hastings raceeourse on Saturday to see the amateurs of to-day competing for the honour of winning the Duke of Gloucester Cup. Many other notable gentlemen riders could be cited, but Hawke 's Bay's list is a little too lengthy to go into at the moment. Outside the Hawke 's Bay j Jockey Club, the Napier Park, Wai- 1 pawa, Waipukurau, as well as the hunts, have all done their best to foster this class of raeing. Back when the bookmaker was allowed to call the odds on the raceeourse, we in this district had the Patane, Woodthorpe, Tikokino, Takapau, Rissington, Kopua and other : non-tote meetings, gentlemen riders were allowed to race. j Riders of Ability. j Looking back on the past records it i is no wonder that this coveted, event is ueing run for next Saturday at Hastings. A glance through. the list of stewards flnds that the present presideut, Mr. G. D. Beatson, in his younger days was oue of the leading lights in the amateur .xider xanks, winning many races on diiferent courses in the Dominion, Mr. W. J. Woods did not come to the North Islafld until wellestablished as an amateur xider of ability, but he has won quite a feiY races round Hawke's Bay. His best re'cord is in the south, where he was known as a fearless rider, winning on the flat, over hurdles and- aerosS couutry. Mr. J. J. Gatenby in Hawke's Bay has ridden mostly in point-to-pdint steeplechaSes at the hunt meetings, but across the Tasman he has won many races. He, too, is, and was, a fearless norseman. The Hon. H. A. Russell is another amateur xider who learhed to ride in Hawke's Bay, and where he rode many Taces on the flat and over country. Others who did not ride in public, but who were keen followers of the bounds, as well as partieipating in point-to-points, are Messrs. T. V. Morrin, T. H. Lowry,, J, N. Lowry, H. R. Peacock and W. A. Tod, so no wonder the committee of the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club worked so hard that the publie of this district would have the opportuiiity of witnessing a contest for the Gloucester Cup. History of Event. The history of the Duke of Gloucester Cup is but a short one, and many no doubt are not quite conversant with it. At the end of the year the Duke of Gloucester when. visting the Dominion was invited by the Marton Jockey Club to ride in the Ladies' Bracelet, as his Highness was a keen horseman and sportsman. Iteadily did he accept the invitation, but unfortunately his mount, Blackman, was not up to carrying successfully the 13st 21bs. awarded him by the handicapper, and fourth was his best. Captain Curtis, an equerry to the D.uke, also had a mount, but Tranquility, whom he rodo, also started. This event saw 14 starters, and was won by D. E. Jackson 's The Ark (owner) with Conference (W. Duncan) second, and Royal Papa (J. P. Morris) thiTd. After this event the Duke generously signifled his intention of presenting a gold cup to be competed for annually, and il was only right tliat the staging of the first race should be granted to the Marton Club. Tlie first cup saw .14 go to the po.d for i'. H. Holman's Royal Papa (W. Dtmfaa'l lo win from Ethiop and Taumau. t-ast season the Canlerbury Jockey (flub had Ihe honour oi I having this event on its programme.

when Mr. R. W. Lewis was successful with Shy (G.* James), with Golden King (G. G. Beatson), and -Hunting" Bag second and third respectively from ten othors. • Amatfcurs Re-established. Judging by the two raccs that -have been mn for the Gloucester Cup, the Duke has done a big thing to reestablish the gentleman rider in New Zealand, and in a few years the ama teurs will onee again be on the hig' plane they once occupied. The Gloucester Cup, at Hastings Saturday has every indication of seei a record field to date competing, ai. what is more the class engaged is of i decidedly better. quality than has .ye' been saddled up to contest the event With handicap horses engaged, and th( best riders proeurable, tlie Dulco 0"! Gloucester Cup for the season 1937-3' is going to be a ntemorable one and ~t race that will be well worth witnessing A rccord attcndance for a Hawke's Baj , spring meeting is anticipatod. __