GLOAMING.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 October 1922, Page 3

GLOAMING.

RETURN TO NEW ZEALAND. GREETED BY CHEERING CROWDS. (“Press’ ’ G ,ri espoudent.) WELLINGTON, October 11. The casual sttoller on the Wellington wharf this morning wbuld be surprised to see such a large crowd assembling there. Tbe Ulimnrua was due to arrive and as in brilliant sunshine she cut her way through the mirror-like surface of the water and passed smoothly to her berth, the people seemed to ho watching her with more than ordinard interest. What mas the reason for this interested crowd? Was there some distinguished visitor on hoard? As a matter of fact a great performer in his own particular line was on the ; ship, though his name appeared only on a bill of lading. There was no pas- \ senger who received greater attention and certainly no passenger on landing ! who attracted half as much notice. He | came ashore without the least formal- | ity. Even the Hon. C’. j. Parr. Port j Health Officer, most considerately re- [ frained from sticking a carbolisod tlier- j mometer in his month. Not that ] there was any occasion for that, see- I ing that he had a clear skin and was j flic embodiment of perfect health. He j had been away fighting great battles, j and seemed not a whit the worse. The ( distinguished passenger was not ; “Billy” Hughes, the Prime Minister I of Australia, nor “Bill” Massey, the j Prime Minister of the Dominion. He I was the famous Gloaming. I As the shin swung slowly to her berth, the bugler on board played , “Roaming in tbe Gloaming,” and “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.” All the , other passengers came ashore unnoticed except by friends or relatives, blit the j crowd still waited and waited for ] Gloaming. Presently a boise box w; s J hoisted on board by a crane, and after j

few minutes it reappeared in nnd- | air with Gloaming in it. There was a cheer from the interested c"owd when it readied the wharf and the door was opened. Out stepped Gloaming with one of the boys in charge. 1 happened to be standing beside Mrs Greenwood. the wife of his owner, and there was a strangely human touch about her solicitude for the beautiful animal. Gloaming gave a loud wliitmey. “Poor old fellow,” she said “lie’s calling to

the other horses. He’s asking where . are bis mates.’ Then one of tbe ship’s stewards came hastily down the gnng- ! way with an apple in his band. “Hero you are old sport.” be said, holding out the apple and Gloaming took it and munched it contentedly. He likes apples. Then Gloaming asked again for . bis mates, and when Oupidon was swung outboard and joined him he seemed per- ’ fectlv contented and glad to be hack in bis adopted, country. “Poor little Cupid”, said Mrs Greenwood “He i nld t not do anything over there. He v.as j not well.” The dark Farceur, followed by Tressayr, soon joined the other two, and the quartet walked about under tbe scrutiny of the crowd. While the pressmen’s cameras clicked. someone called for more cheers for Gloaming, and these were heartily given and thus ; it was that the hero i f the New Zeni land sportin'* world dime back to New j Zealand. [ Later in the day I saw Mr C. I). Greenwood at the Midland Hutch He bad a few words to say about English racing. He attended the principal muetings there, and saw Hector Gray riding, and riding well, Imt good a. Gray is. there are, lie admitted, still better jockeys in England. 8. in** of them are greii judges of pace and that is v.hat tolls in a hard fought race so far as the rider is concerned. Mr Greenwood seemed to have a great opinion of Stephen Donoghne especially. Another thing til l impressed him in England «as the straight runs that the horses got in the mile and six furling races, that gave every horse an equal chance. [ which is nut possible on most of the I New Zealand courses. Mr Greenwood |

was also impressed w ith the interest the j Royal Family took in racing. The King j and Queen were most popular on the I classic courses of England and so was Princess Mary who is taking a very keen interest in racing. The public however, were not catered for : -s in the Dominions. When Mr Greenwood reached Australia his famous horse had already taken l>a rt in two races. He and his horse | got a great reception in Sydney. “They are groat sports there,’’ lie- said “and love a, good horse. Tiler© is far mure enthusiasm there than in England or Ame rica* or New Zealand.” “When 1 gut there.” ho said, “each ! horse had won a rave, and what I would ! have liked would have been a match between tin- two horses. I suggested that to Mason and to Sir Rupert C'krrke who also would have liked such a inatcdi. The owners could Inve put up £SOO or £IOOO ca 11, and the Jockey Club miglit have offered a stake of £IOOO. Then we could have raced for j the champicnsliin of Australasia. That would have settled the mutter fo>- all time, but it was not to he. After the four race- in which Gloaming and Bcauford took part had been run. t*’e president and secretary of the Jockey Club suggested a match, but we had bv (lion made our arrangements t"o go | back to Now Zealand, and so could not ;

entertain the proposal.” i There'seenis to I,si a general opinion ■that Gloaming would have won the third racce if ho had not hetn blocked. : Mr Greenwood would not subscribe to j that statement. “Wood,” he said, ! “is a very good jockey, and you may j . safely give the credit of the win to ' | Wood tluni blame (he other starters in I the race. We had thee Held against us. I excepting Furious, and Gloaming 1 who could not got into a good position, . had to cover a few lengths more than | Bcauford. Gloaming, apparently met with some interference, and when he entered the straight he had almufc four lengths, to make up. The last six fur- 1 longs of the one and a-lialf miles was run in Im. 11s.. and Gloaming would hive had to do it in Im. 10s. to beat his opponent. He trUsd his best, but could not quite reach him, though he was gaining inch by inch with every stride at the last. As it was, 1 consider lie did a moat marvellous performance!,. w-tih four lengths to the had, to catch a horse like Beau ford in the straight. The public in the four races got plenty of thrills. I assure you, for their money.” ' “Bcauford:' Oh. he’s a great galloper,” said Mr Greenwood, in answer to an enquiry as to what he thought of the Australian horse. “Ho holds the record for a mild ami one mile and

a quarter. He is not an impressive li,u;;e to watch in the paddock, and j you would nob pick him to ho a ehani- | picn as you watch him walking round, j I don’t think he is likely to tome to New Zealand, as he does not travel well. He is not a go:d feeder, and ! even after a.trip to Melbourne lie does not cat well for a week or so. But | .when he goes on the track he i.s really

a great galloper.” .Mr Greenwood said that Glooming hid returned in the best condition; in fact ho 'was a picture of fttncfS. Gloam ing and Tressayr were sent out to Trentham to-day, and Gloaming is to take his place in the* Champion Plate field at the Wellington meeting. After tha lie will go on to Riccarton. where he will race at tin November fixture. “Had we gone on to Melbourne' and met Kiirythinic,” said Mr Greenwood, “1 would have lost Mason’s services for tin' reef of the team, and we have a pretty big string altogether. \Ye hope to go over in the autumn if Gloaming is well, and I trust that we will meet both Bciaufi.rd and Eurythmic. I told them in Australia that I was sure that New Zealand would he pleas!i.l to welcome a champion like Beaufortl should ho Ik? sent overbore.”

“What chance is there of that?” Mr Greenwood was asked. “No chance.” was the answer. “I would like Gloam ing to meet Beauford and Eurythmic in the autumn if Sydney or Melbourne would put on a £3OOO of £4OOO race for these three horses, so that they could race for the championship of Australia. It would ho the greatest draw of all time. However, the thing is very difficult, for the three horses would have to he fit and well on exactly the same date. Gloaming has now been eleven times across tbe Tasman Sea to meet tlio best Australia could put up against him, and altogether lie lias contested fifty-one races. Of these ho has won 44. In stake money he has won £31.714. I do not think he will overtake Kurythmic’s winning re cord, as the Australian horse has good engagements ahead and will go on winning.” Mr Greenwood, left by the southern boat to-night for Christchurch.