SIR HERCULES ROBINSON AS A SPORTSMAN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 49, 14 February 1879, Page 3

SIR HERCULES ROBINSON AS A SPORTSMAN.

The Australasian has an article on

the victories of our new Governor's racehorses, which commences as follows.—

" It was a gracoful act on the part of the Australian Joclioy Club to announce that a raoo meeting would be held afc-Randwick in honor of its patron, Sir Hercules Robinson. During ins Excellency the Governor's 4e*m-of office, he has, by an active p>.-. : +-ir,ipation in the popular sport, si Tft «" example which has borne grc, i fctiir, for not only has it had the efit.ot of improving the tonfl of racing affairs generally, but it has induced

several of the leading men of Nt*w i Sou»h Wales to enter into turf p'.ir'sui's with a will. This, in itsc-lf, nust in the end linvaan amoliorutinir influence ; for if the turf is to rwnaiu h p> pular institution, the ttouiiteiu.nutf and active support of tho landed gontry are absolute necessities. i\or did his Excellency conduct his racing »i"ftiirs with a uiggarj hand. Mr Thomas Lamond, one of the most successful traiuersof the sister colony, was- engagf (1 as private tr«r nor i capacious and tf ell built stables, with a handsome cottage for the trainer, were erected at Zetland-lodge ; and animals boasting the most aristocratic lineage were chosen for the trainer to work upon. It is small muter for wonder, then, that the Zetland spots of Sir Iletcules Hobinson were often seen in the van . If we remomber rightly, Fitzy attendon was tho first animal of note that carried his Excellency's colors." After summarizing tho performances of Sir Hercules' horses the article concludes as follows: —

"This summary of the winning performances of the animals that represented Sir Hercules Eobinson during the few years that he has been resident in Australia shews that, al» though not successful in the great handicaps, he has gained a fair share of the good things dispensed by the leading clubs of New South Wales and Victoria ; and should his Excellency determine to follow the sport in New Zealand we tiust that liis colors may be carried by animals equal to Kingsborough, Filzy at tendon, Tocal, Habena, Emily, &c. In Sir Hercules Robinson the New Zealanders will have a staunch supporter and liberal patron of tho turf, one who can hold his own with most men, either as a statesman or as a sportsman ; and we feel satisfied that when the time arrives for his departure from the land of the Maori, ho will have gained the estoem and affection of tho colonists of those beautiful isles in the Southern Ocean."